Turkish Airlines is preparing to launch a four-weekly new service from Istanbul (IST) to Santiago de Chile (SCL), starting on December 18, 2024.
The new route will be an extension of its existing service to Sao Paulo-Guarulhos (GRU), Brazil, making use of 5th Freedom rights, which allow carriers to fly and carry passengers between two countries other than their own. The aircraft operating this route, an Airbus A350-900, will remain 1 hour and 35 minutes on the ground in Sao Paulo before continuing the journey to Santiago.
At the moment, Turkish Airlines already operates its Buenos Aires (EZE) service as a Fifth Freedom route via Sao Paulo.
Santiago de Chile will, thus, become the 26th destination served by Turkish Airlines in the American continent. With the addition of Chile, Turkish Airlines also consolidates its position as the airline that serves the largest number of countries in the world. Chile is going to be the 10th country in the Americas that Turkish Airlines flies to.
This announcement arrives shortly after Turkish Airlines announced another ultra-long-haul route, to Sydney (SYD), which is also operated as a Fifth Freedom route via Kuala Lumpur (KUL), Malaysia.