Turkish Airlines Expands South Africa Services with More Flights from October
Turkish Airlines is set to significantly boost its presence in the South African market, announcing an increase in flights between Istanbul and two of the country’s busiest cities from October 2026.
The airline will raise frequencies on both its Istanbul–Johannesburg and Istanbul–Cape Town routes to 10 weekly flights, up from the current seven weekly services. The expanded schedule will remain in place until March 2027, offering passengers greater travel flexibility during the busy Southern Hemisphere summer season.
Stronger links between Turkey and Southern Africa
According to Turkish Airlines, the additional flights are aimed at strengthening air connectivity between Turkey and Southern Africa, while supporting growing demand for business travel, tourism and cargo transport.
The carrier said the extra capacity is expected to improve travel options for passengers while also enhancing belly-hold cargo connectivity between the regions.
“Beyond providing travellers with greater flexibility, the additional capacity is expected to support business travel, inbound tourism and belly-hold cargo connectivity,” the airline said in a statement.
Expanding a global network
Turkish Airlines continues to expand one of the world’s largest international route networks, currently operating a fleet of 553 aircraft serving more than 350 destinations worldwide.
The increase in South African services further reinforces the airline’s commitment to the region as competition for international travel continues to grow.
With 10 weekly flights to both Johannesburg and Cape Town, travellers will benefit from improved access to Istanbul and Turkish Airlines’ extensive global network spanning Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas.
As demand for travel between South Africa and international destinations remains strong, the additional frequencies are expected to provide more convenient connections while supporting tourism and trade between the two regions.
