Turkish Airlines is set to deepen its reach into Latin America this December with the launch of its inaugural passenger flights to Chile, becoming the eighth country in the region served by the carrier.
Starting Dec. 18, the airline will operate four weekly flights connecting its Istanbul Airport hub and Santiago’s Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport using Airbus A350-900 aircraft. However, service will not be nonstop, but instead will be a continuation of the carrier’s existing flights to São Paulo, Brazil.
Turkish Airlines currently flies to São Paulo Guarulhos International Airport 11 times per week—seven of which continue to Buenos Aires Ministro Pistarini International Airport, Argentina. A fifth-freedom flight to Santiago will now be tagged onto the four roundtrip frequencies that currently operate nonstop between Istanbul and São Paulo.
The move sees the Star Alliance member increase its Latin American network to nine cities, joining Bogota, Colombia; Buenos Aires; Cancun and Mexico City, Mexico; Caracas, Venezuela; Havana, Cuba; Panama City, Panama; and São Paulo.
Speaking to Aviation Week at the Farnborough Airshow in July, Turkish Airlines Chairman Ahmet Bolat revealed that Santiago was a destination under evaluation, alongside Peru’s capital Lima. The airline also plans to start flying to Rio de Janeiro after Turkey and Brazil moved to liberalize air travel in January.
According to data from OAG Schedules Analyser, Turkish Airlines’ one-stop service from Istanbul to Santiago will be the Chilean capital’s eighth connection to Europe and the first direct link between Chile and Turkey.
Currently, the Santiago-Madrid market is served nonstop by both Iberia and LATAM Airlines Group, with LATAM also offering a one-stop option via Bogota. Air France operates nonstop flights between Paris and Santiago, while Iberia and British Airways connect Santiago with Barcelona and London Heathrow, respectively. Additionally, KLM offers service from Amsterdam with a stop in Buenos Aires.