Turkish Airlines (THY) is set to expand its long-haul operations to the U.S. and Canada for the 2025 summer season, further solidifying its presence in North America. With up to 28 daily flights in July, THY maintains its position as the fifth-largest foreign carrier serving the two countries.
Although minor fluctuations in daily departures may occur, the increase from 26 daily flights in 2024 to 28 this year highlights THY’s steady growth in North America.
Fierce Competition in North America: Competing with Gulf Giants
As Turkish Airlines continues its expansion on the continent, it faces strong competition from Gulf carriers such as Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways. These three airlines are scheduled to operate a combined total of 42 flights to North America in July 2025, down slightly from 43 last year. This shows THY’s growing competitiveness and its efforts to secure a firmer position in the market.
High Demand on U.S. and Canadian Routes During Summer
THY operates all North American flights from its hub at Istanbul Airport. The four daily flights to New York JFK during the summer reflect high demand in the U.S. market. Turkish Airlines offers two daily flights to both Chicago and Los Angeles, and between 9 and 11 weekly flights to other major cities like Miami, Washington DC, San Francisco, Atlanta, Dallas, and Houston.
Limited Service to Canada – Traffic Rights Pose a Barrier
THY continues to operate flights to Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. However, due to bilateral traffic rights between Canada and Turkey, the airline is unable to increase flight frequencies to daily levels. These regulatory constraints, common among transit-focused carriers, hinder THY’s potential expansion in Canada.
Partnerships with codeshare or joint venture carriers could be a potential workaround, though THY’s existing agreements might limit new alliances.
Fourth Daily JFK Flight Draws Attention
Flights TK111 and TK112 stand out in particular. TK111 departs Istanbul at 00:50 and arrives in New York at 04:30 local time, while TK112 leaves JFK at 06:45 and returns to Istanbul at 23:25. This schedule provides passengers with a convenient daytime transatlantic journey and seamless connections from Istanbul to destinations across the Middle East, Asia, and Europe.
Istanbul Airport: A Global Connectivity Hub
Istanbul Airport continues to strengthen its role as Turkish Airlines’ global hub. According to February 2025 data, THY carried 608,000 round-trip passengers on the Istanbul-JFK route with a seat load factor of 87%. Approximately 69% of these passengers connected through Istanbul to destinations like Tbilisi, Jeddah, Samarkand, Tirana, and Moscow.
Forward-Looking Strategy: Deepening North American Footprint
Turkish Airlines’ North American strategy goes beyond direct connections. By positioning Istanbul as a central global hub, the airline is focused on increasing its market share despite restrictions in Canada and fierce competition across the region.
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