This week, Turkish Airlines launched its 14th U.S. destination in the U.S. with a direct route to Denver, but the expansion won't stop there — Minneapolis is in the air carrier's sights.
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This week, Turkish Airlines launched its 14th U.S. destination in the U.S. with a direct route to Denver, but the expansion won't stop there — Minneapolis is in the air carrier's sights.
Turkish Airlines Chairman Ahmet Bolat told Travel Weekly in an interview that it's added Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport to its wish list of future U.S. destinations, alongside Charlotte, Philadelphia and Orlando. Bolat said the airline wants to have 20 U.S. destinations, but didn't specify a timeline.
However, Turkish Airlines has made no formal announcement of a new route at MSP.
The Metropolitan Airports Commission, which runs MSP and six reliever Twin Cities area airports, did not confirm Bolat's statement, but did note that it has continual talks with airlines year-round.
"In most cases, the airlines take the lead on sharing their own route development options and new route announcements," said Jeff Lea, spokesman for the Metropolitan Airports Commission.
Turkish Airlines began flights to the U.S. with New York via Brussels in 1988 and six years later started direct flights to New York. The 90-year-old company now flies to 120 countries from Istanbul Airport with a fleet of 457 aircraft. With the addition of Turkish Airlines, MSP would have 20 carriers servicing the airport.
On June 4, Lufthansa became the 19th carrier at MSP when it launched a year-round, direct flight to Frankfurt, Germany. The route is five days a week service on a 294-seat Boeing 787-9 widebody aircraft. Aer Lingus resumed direct flights to Dublin, Ireland, and Delta launched direct flights to the Emerald Isle this year.
Travelers from MSP currently have access to 32 international destinations.