Turkish Airlines: A record-holder connecting travellers to more destinations than ever
With flights to over 350 destinations in some 130 countries, Turkish Airlines is a global leader in connectivity
Exhibiting at ITB Berlin 2025, Turkish Airlines serves the most countries of any airline in the world, cemented by the carrier’s constant addition of new destinations to its network.
Since 2012, Turkish Airlines has held the title of the carrier flying to the most countries in the world. Officially marking this incredible achievement, the carrier has been recognised by the Guinness World Record under the title “Most Countries Flown to by an Airline”. The distinction was awarded to the airline in Santiago de Chile on 20 December 2024 as the airline launched its inaugural flight to the South American city.
According to Guinness record criteria, Turkish Airlines actively serves 120 countries. If temporarily suspended routes are included, the carrier’s flight network spans 131 countries. At the end of December 2024, the network comprised 352 destinations served by a fleet of over 460 aircraft. According to Turkish Airlines management present at ITB Berlin, 90% of the world’s population is covered by the airline.
Expansion is a clear strategy for the airline. Last year, Turkish Airlines opened new routes to Sydney, Santiago de Chili, Denver, Turin, Kabul and Tripoli. With the new political situation emerging in Syria, the airline resumed its flights to Damascus at the end of January and also returned to Benghazi in Libya. The airline is now planning to add new routes in 2025 to Ohrid, Lima and Phnom Penh.
The network’s expansion is bolstered by big ambitions. After transporting over 85 million passengers last year, the airline is now expecting to surpass the 90-million passenger mark this year on a fleet of over 500 aircraft. Turkish Airlines now has an eye on 2033. By that time, it hopes to carry 170 million passengers on a fleet of 800 aircraft. This would represent annual growth of almost 8% on average. Although the airline’s management acknowledges that these plans could face some delays due to supply issues by aircraft manufacturers, they are keeping a positive outlook.
In terms of new services on board, last year Turkish Airlines introduced fast, universal Wi-Fi. Currently only available to Elite and Star Alliance Gold passengers, it should be extended to all other passengers this year. For now, travellers flying in economy class enjoy unlimited messaging services. The business class product has also been revamped with a new Crystal Business Class seat being gradually introduced as the airline receives new aircraft or reconfigures older aircraft models.
Phnom Penh to be Turkish Airlines’ newest destination in Southeast Asia
Turkish Airlines will begin flights from Istanbul to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, on 10 December 2025. With this new destination, Cambodia will become the seventh country served by the dynamic airline in Southeast Asia and Phnom Penh will be the eleventh city in the region. The new route to Phnom Penh will extend the global carrier’s network to the Far East to 20 cities and 21 airports.
Scheduled three times a week with an Airbus A330-300, flights from Istanbul to Phnom Penh via Bangkok will operate on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, while flights from Phnom Penh to Istanbul will operate on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The new route will also boost Turkish Airlines’ presence in Bangkok from 21 to 24 weekly flights.
