Turkish Airlines Expands U.S. Presence with Launch of 12th U.S. Gateway
Turkish Airlines will launch its 12th U.S. gateway in Seattle, Washington, on Friday, May 27.
Turkish Airlines will service four flights per week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday) between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and Istanbul Airport using a 300-seat Boeing 787-9. The maiden flight, TK203, is anticipated to take off from Istanbul Airport (IST) on May 27 at 2:05 p.m. local time and arrive to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) on May 27 at 4:15 p.m. local time. The first Turkish Airlines flight to depart from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), flight TK204, will depart May 27 at 5:45 p.m. and arrive to Istanbul Airport (IST) on May 28 at 3:25 p.m. local time.
With its centrally located hub at the new Istanbul Airport, scheduled to be the world’s largest upon completion, Turkish Airlines flies to 334 destinations in 128 countries spanning five continents, and is strategically positioned to connect to more than 60 destinations within a three-hour flight from Istanbul. The Seattle gateway will be the airline’s 335th destination and the first Turkish Airlines’ gateway in the Pacific Northwest region of the U.S.
In North America, Turkish Airlines currently has 16 gateway cities including Atlanta, Washington, D.C., New York, Chicago, Houston, Miami, Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Toronto, Montreal, Mexico City, Cancun – and in 2021, Turkish Airlines added three new gateways – Newark, Dallas and Vancouver. In 2022, Turkish Airlines is also planning to launch an additional gateway in Detroit.
On the new gateway, Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, Professor Dr. Ahmet Bolat, stated, “We are proud to open our new Seattle gateway, the first in the Pacific Northwest, as we continue to expand our U.S. presence and global route network. We invite Seattle to reconnect with the world and experience our world-class service, award-winning cuisine and world-famous Turkish hospitality.”
Lance Lyttle, SEA airport managing director, stated, “Seattle is one of the fastest diversifying regions in the country, with over a quarter of our residents foreign-born. Turkish Airlines will expand connections to destinations throughout Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. On top of that, Istanbul is an exciting city and a must on any traveler’s bucket list.”
With new flight routes, health and safety continue to be the airline’s utmost priority. Turkish Airlines was awarded the highest “Diamond” level status by APEX (Airline Passenger Experience Association) Health Safety, powered by SimpliFlying, for the airline’s continued efforts in ensuring the highest standards of cleanliness and sanitation, which was deemed worthy of less than 10 airlines. Turkish Airlines was also awarded the first-ever APEX World Class Award in 2021, which evaluates airlines on health, safety, sustainability and guest experience, and has been recognized with a 5-Star Global Airline rating by APEX since 2017.
Inflight, passengers can enjoy premium onboard dining, including hot meals and beverage services prepared by Flying Chefs, and Versace amenity kits for business class passengers and Mandarina Duck amenity kits for economy class passengers on long-haul flights.
