Looking for direct international flights? Sea-Tac adds new trips to this destination
In the mood for an authentic kofte and kebab or a trip down a waterfront that will literally take you from Europe to Asia and vice versa?
The ability to do so has just become an accessible reality for Washington residents, thanks to Turkish Airlines launching its first gateway in the Pacific Northwest at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
As of May 27, Turkish Airlines offers flights from Seattle-Tacoma to Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul is the most populous city in Europe and the only city in the world to straddle two continents, sitting on the Bosphorus strait that divides Europe and Asia.
“We are proud to open our new Seattle gateway, the first in the Pacific Northwest, as we continue to expand our U.S. presence and global route network,” Professor Dr. Ahmet Bolat, Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, said in a press release.
“We invite Seattle to reconnect with the world and experience our world-class service, award-winning cuisine and world-famous Turkish hospitality,” Bolat continued.
The maiden flight took off from Istanbul Airport on May 27 at 2:05 p.m. local time and landed in Washington on the same day at 4:15 p.m. local time, thanks to a 10-hour time difference between the two cities.
The first Turkish Airlines flight from Seattle-Tacoma departed soon after the first arrival at 5:45 p.m. local time on May 27 and landed in Istanbul on May 28 at 3:25 p.m. local time.
There are four direct flights per week between the two airports, using a 300-seater Boeing 787-9 airplane.
Seattle-Tacoma is Turkish Airlines’ 12th U.S. gateway, joining Atlanta, Washington, D.C., New York, Newark, Chicago, Houston, Miami, Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Dallas.
The airline company also plans to open a 13th U.S. gateway in Detroit later this year, according to the press release.
Seattle-Tacoma becomes Turkish Airlines’ 335th destination and opens up the possibility for Americans to fly through Istanbul to over 60 other destinations within a three-hour flight from Istanbul.
“Seattle is one of the fastest diversifying regions in the country, with over a quarter of our residents foreign-born,” Lance Lyttle, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport managing director, stated in the press release.
“Turkish Airlines will expand connections to destinations throughout Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe,” Lyttle continued. “On top of that, Istanbul is an exciting city and a must on any traveler’s bucket list.”
This story was originally published June 8, 2022 at 10:01 AM with the headline "Looking for direct international flights? Sea-Tac adds new trips to this destination."
