Flies to more countries than any other airline — unbeatable global reach
Turkish Airlines flies to more countries than any other carrier in the world — over 130. Its Istanbul hub serves as a geographic bridge between Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The airline's catering is managed by DO&CO, a premium Austrian caterer, giving it some of the best food in the sky regardless of class. The new Istanbul Airport is massive and well-equipped, though connection times can be long due to the airport's size.
Economy offers 31-32 inch pitch on widebody aircraft. Complimentary meals and beverages (including alcohol) on all international flights — a rarity among full-service carriers in terms of quality. Personal entertainment screens on widebodies. Narrowbody European flights have overhead screens and a complimentary snack/meal.
Business class on long-haul flights features a 1-2-1 layout with fully flat beds on newer 787s and select 777s. The product is comfortable but not as private as competitors like Qatar Qsuite or Singapore's latest. DO&CO catering shines in business — multi-course meals with Turkish and international options that consistently surprise. The Turkish Airlines lounge in Istanbul is legendary.
Turkish Airlines does not currently offer a traditional first class cabin.
Economy: 30 kg (most routes), 2 × 23 kg (Americas). Business: 40 kg or 2 × 32 kg. Carry-on: 8 kg plus personal item.
Personal screens on widebody aircraft with a solid selection of Turkish and international content. The system is adequate but not industry-leading. Free Wi-Fi on most international flights (limited data with upgrade options).
The standout feature of Turkish Airlines. DO&CO catering provides restaurant-quality meals in all classes. Economy passengers get a hot meal with a choice of mains that rivals some airlines' business class. Business class dining is multi-course with a flying chef on long-haul routes. The Istanbul lounge has an open kitchen with fresh-made Turkish cuisine.
Compare prices across booking platforms and find the best deal.
Search Turkish Airlines flights →Turkish Airlines achieves an on-time performance of approximately 75-78%, which is reasonable given the massive scale of its Istanbul hub operations. Istanbul Airport (IST), opened in 2018, is one of the world's newest mega-hubs and has alleviated some of the congestion issues that plagued the old Atatürk Airport. Turkish Airlines holds a 7/7 safety rating. The airline operates one of the largest fleets in Europe with over 400 aircraft, averaging approximately 8 years in age — one of the youngest fleets among major carriers.
Turkish Airlines serves more countries than any other airline in the world — over 130 destinations in 120+ countries. Istanbul's geographic position at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa makes it an ideal connecting hub, and Turkish Airlines has leveraged this aggressively. The airline is a member of the Star Alliance and offers connections to destinations that virtually no other carrier serves nonstop from a single hub, including cities across Central Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Caucasus. Key routes include Istanbul–New York, Istanbul–London, Istanbul–Bangkok, and Istanbul–Johannesburg. The airline's extensive domestic network within Turkey also makes it easy to combine an Istanbul stopover with visits to Cappadocia, Antalya, or other Turkish destinations.
Turkish Airlines consistently offers some of the most competitive prices among major full-service carriers, particularly on routes between Europe and Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The airline's Miles & Smiles program is underrated — a round-trip business class award from Istanbul to North America requires 45,000 miles, which is a fraction of what competitors charge. Turkish regularly runs '48-hour flash sales' and seasonal promotions. For standard fares, book 6-10 weeks ahead for the best prices. Consider taking advantage of Turkish Airlines' free Istanbul stopover program — passengers with a layover of 6-24 hours can receive a complimentary hotel stay and meals in Istanbul.
Miles&Smiles is the loyalty program with earning across Star Alliance. Tiers: Classic, Classic Plus (priority check-in, extra baggage), Elite (lounge access, priority boarding), Elite Plus (Star Alliance Gold equivalent, additional upgrades). Competitive earning and redemption rates.
Fly Turkish Airlines if: Travelers seeking connections to Africa, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Middle East — no airline covers these regions better.
Consider alternatives if: Those who need the most modern business class hard product — the seat lags behind Gulf carrier rivals.
Turkish Airlines receives a 4.2/5 rating in our review. It offers solid service based on cabins, baggage, entertainment, food, and loyalty program.
Turkish Airlines is based at Istanbul (IST). It is a member of Star Alliance.
Economy: 30 kg (most routes), 2 × 23 kg (Americas). Business: 40 kg or 2 × 32 kg. Carry-on: 8 kg plus personal item.
Use our flight comparison tool to compare Turkish Airlines prices across booking platforms including Kiwi.com. Booking 6-8 weeks in advance and flying mid-week typically yields the cheapest fares.
Yes. Turkish Airlines offers the TourIstanbul program for transit passengers with layovers between 6 and 24 hours at Istanbul Airport. Eligible passengers receive complimentary hotel accommodation, meals, and a guided city tour. The program is available in both business and economy class on qualifying international itineraries.
Turkish Airlines catering is handled by Do & Co, a premium Austrian catering company, and is widely considered among the best in the sky. Economy meals include a hot main course, salad, bread, and dessert. Business class features a multi-course Turkish and international menu with Turkish wines and spirits. The airline won the Skytrax Best Airline Catering award multiple years running.
Turkish Airlines holds a 7/7 safety rating from AirlineRatings.com and operates one of the youngest fleets in Europe. The airline meets all EASA and ICAO safety standards and is regularly audited under the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) program. Istanbul Airport features modern infrastructure designed to current safety specifications.
The Turkish Airlines CIP Lounge in Istanbul is worth arriving early for — it has a cinema, library, sleep pods, shower suites, and a full DO&CO restaurant. Even if you don't have business class, consider purchasing lounge access.