Turkish Airlines has set a new world record for most countries flown to by an airline, according to Guinness World Records.
On October 21, 2024, Turkish Airlines attained the title for flying to a total of 120 countries based on the observed period from September 2023 to September 2024. Without a doubt, the airline has by far the largest global footprint, touching multiple locations in almost every region.
The record certificate was presented at Santiago Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL) following Turkish Airlines’ inaugural flight to Chile on December 19th. The ceremony was attended by Turkish Airlines executives and Guinness World Records officials.
Turkish says their record was based on active routes, and noted that the total count would be 131 countries if they factored in suspended routes, as well as their inaugural flight to Santiago.
Turkish Airlines CEO Bilal Ekşi stated, “We are delighted to be in Santiago, Chile, our newest route launched today, and to receive the Guinness World Records title for the Most Countries Flown to by an Airline. As the only airline to hold this distinction for over a decade, we proudly showcase the strength of our flight network and reinforce our mission to connect people, cultures, and destinations around the globe.”
New fifth freedom flight to Chile
Credit: ERIC SALARD/Flickr | CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 GenericTurkish has added another fifth freedom route to its network, this time connecting Chile via Sao Paulo (GRU). This will make it their third longest flight, totaling 7,107 nautical miles and spanning an average combined time of 19 hours and 10 minutes each way.
The Airbus A350-900 operated route will see 4x weekly service on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. This new flight will make it Turkish’ second fifth freedom flight operating out of Sao Paulo behind the connection to Buenos Aires (EZE).
Featured image: Tim/Flickr | CC0 1.0 Universal
