Turkish Airlines Launches Flights to Chengdu, Gateway to Western China

Three weekly flights via Istanbul connect travellers to a city renowned for Sichuan cuisine and giant panda encounters.

Fourth Chinese Destination on the Airline’s Network

Turkish Airlines launched scheduled flights to Chengdu on 11 November, making the city its fourth destination in mainland China, after Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. The new route gives travellers from the region another option for reaching western China via Istanbul aboard Türkiye’s national carrier.

The airline operates flights between Istanbul and Chengdu Tianfu International Airport on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays under flight number TK226. Return flights operate on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays under flight number TK227. The service is operated by Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, with a direct flight time of approximately eight and a half hours.

Murat Şeker, Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee of Turkish Airlines, said the company was "continuing to strengthen its flight network in China", expressing his belief that the new route would support trade, cultural and tourism ties between Türkiye and China.

Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan Province and is known for its local cuisine, which helped earn the city a place in UNESCO's Creative Cities Network in the field of gastronomy. Visitors can combine the experience of sampling spicy dishes at the city's restaurants and traditional markets with a visit to the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, which brings together animal conservation, environmental awareness and tourism.

Passengers arriving on this route land at Tianfu International Airport, from where public transport connections to the city centre are available. Arab travellers can use Istanbul as a transit hub to reach Chengdu through the airline's network, while checking visa requirements and connecting flight schedules according to their nationality and itinerary.

The airline had previously announced promotional fares starting at $540 for a round trip. However, the booking deadline for the offer was 11 November, so travellers should check current fares through the airline's official channels.