site.btaTurkish Airlines to Expand Direct Flight Network with Ultra-long-range Aircraft

Turkiye’s flag carrier, Turkish Airlines, plans to expand its direct flight network with the addition of ultra-long-range aircraft starting from late 2027, according to Hurriyet Daily News.

Murat Seker, chairman of the Board and Executive Committee of the company, speaking about the carrier’s fleet strategy, said the carrier's plan to order around 420 aircraft, configured versions of the Airbus A350-1000 designed for ultra-long-haul operations, remains in progress.

The new aircraft will allow the airline to operate non-stop flights of up to 17 hours. This will make it easier to fly directly to distant destinations such as Sydney and Melbourne. The planned Airbus A350 aircraft will connect Istanbul directly with Buenos Aires and Lima, destinations to which Turkish Airlines does not offer direct flights at the moment.

The year 2026 has been evaluated as a challenging one for the airline industry, and Turkish airlines in particular, as there have been significant fuel-related cost pressures. But the company believes the impact of ongoing conflicts will not continue beyond the end of the summer season.

"This year, we may only be able to deliver capacity growth of around 1 to 2%, while our initial target was around 7 to 8%," Seker said.

He emphasized that the airline’s extensive network has helped it manage current challenges effectively.

"We hope to complete this year with limited losses and moderate growth, and then continue Turkish Airlines’ growth journey from where we left off," Seker said, quoted by Hurriyet.

Ultra-long-range aircraft are specialized wide-body aircraft capable of flying between 16 and 20 hours nonstop. They connect distant destinations around the globe directly, saving time and avoiding stopovers.