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Turkish Airlines to Launch Nonstop Flights to Detroit this Fall

The Motor City will become Turkish Airlines' 13th destination in the U.S. when nonstop flights from Istanbul commence this November

by Fergus Cole

July 6, 2023

Photo: Detroit Airport's Connecting Tunnel. Courtesy of Augusto Navarro / Unsplash

Turkish Airlines will launch nonstop flights to Detroit as part of its network expansion in the U.S.

Starting November 15, 2023, the Turkish flag carrier will launch three nonstop weekly flights between Istanbul Airport (IST) and Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW).

Turkish Airlines will use a Boeing 787-9 to operate the new route, which has a total capacity of 300 passengers. This includes 30 seats in Business Class and the remaining 270 seats in the standard Economy cabin.

The airline’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner / Photo: Courtesy of Turkish Airlines

Once launched, Detroit will become Turkish Airlines’ 13th destination in the United States, with the Turkish flag carrier previously confirming its desire to expand its footprint in North America.

The airline offers flights to various cities in the United States, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington. They are also planning to expand their destinations by adding Denver in 2024.

Turkish Airlines offers flights to Canadian cities such as Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver, as well as various destinations in the Central American & Caribbean region, including Cancun, Panama City, Bogota, Havana, and Caracas. The airline has recently announced an increase in service from seven to eight weekly flights to the Venezuelan capital.

“We are thrilled to introduce another gateway in the Midwest region, connecting travelers from nearby areas through the bustling hub of Detroit,” said Ahmet Bolat, Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee at Turkish Airlines.

Business Class, Flying Chef service. Photo: Courtesy of Turkish Airlines

“This is a significant milestone in our expansion plans for North America as we continue to fulfill our mission of connecting more people and more destinations through our robust global route network. As flights from Detroit Metropolitan Airport take off this fall, we warmly welcome travelers to explore Istanbul and beyond.”

The arrival of Turkish Airlines in Detroit will give residents access to a vast range of destinations worldwide via the airline’s global network. The Istanbul-based carrier has one of the largest networks of any airline in the world, serving over 300 airports across more than 120 countries. Turkish Airlines has major plans for expansion, too, with Bolat stating that it aims to reach more than 400 unique destinations.

The new flight to Detroit will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Flight TK205 departs Istanbul at 3:45 PM local time and arrives in Detroit at 6:50 PM. The return journey, Flight TK206, leaves Detroit at 9:35 PM and returns to Istanbul the next day at 3:35 PM. There will be an additional Saturday flight starting in early 2024, making it four flights per week.