Most countries flown to by an airline, Turkish Airlines sets world record

January 27, 2025

Istanbul, Turkey--Turkish Airlines, part of the Star Alliance, operates a fleet of 474 total passenger and cargo aircraft and flies to 131 countries, setting the world record for the Most countries flown to by an airline, according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY.

"With destinations in 120 countries, Turkish Airlines (TK) has been officially lauded by the Guinness World Records for being the airline with the biggest reach," the Business Traveler reports.

The Turkish flag carrier has claimed to fly to more countries than any other since 2012, but this is the first time Guinness World Records have formally recognized the claim.

"Turkish Airlines claims it flies to 131 countries, 11 more than counted by Guinness World Records. The airline’s tally includes routes that are temporarily suspended, such as a flight from Istanbul (IST) to Tel Aviv, Israel (TLV), canceled through February 2025, and its newly launched flight to Santiago, Chile (SLC)."

"The most countries flown by an airline is 120 countries and was achieved by Turkish Airlines (Türkiye) in Istanbul, Türkiye on 21 October 2024," the Guinness World Records says.

"Turkish Airlines flies to 120 countries based on the past year from September 2023 to September 2024."

"The Istanbul-based carrier now officially holds the Guinness World Records title of “most countries flown to by an airline,” Turkish Airlines shared with Travel + Leisure. In the past 12 months, the carrier operated routes to 120 different countries," the Travel & Leisure reports.

"But the airline’s reach doesn’t end there. Counting the carrier’s temporarily suspended routes, the airline said it flies to more than 130 countries around the globe. In the United States, Turkish Airlines flies to 10 different cities: Atlanta, Boston, Washington D.C., Houston, New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, San Francisco, and Detroit.

"Turkish Airlines is part of the Star Alliance along with carriers like United Airlines, Air Canada, and Lufthansa, and operates a fleet of 474 total passenger and cargo aircraft."

"Turkish Airlines, which has held the title of flying to the most countries in the world since 2012, has been officially recognized by Guinness World Records™ as the record holder. Turkiye’s national flag carrier has successfully achieved the Guinness World Records™ title for the “Most Countries Flown to by an Airline”, the Aircargo Update reports.

"The record certificate was presented at Santiago Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport following Turkish Airlines’ inaugural flight to Chile. The ceremony was attended by Turkish Airlines executives and Guinness World Records™ officials.

"“As the airline flying to more countries than any other in the world, we continue to connect continents and cultures. The launch of our Santiago flights once again underscores our commitment to offering travellers unparalleled connectivity options. These flights will not only contribute to trade and tourism but also enhance cultural interaction between the two nations. We look forward to welcoming passengers onboard to experience our signature services and our world-renowned Turkish hospitality while discovering the captivating beauty of Chile, Türkiye and beyond,” said Turkish Airlines CEO Bilal Ekşi."

"Turkish Airlines, or legally Türk Hava Yolları Anonim Ortaklığı, is the flag carrier of Turkey. As of June 2024, it operates scheduled services to 352 destinations (including cargo) in Europe, Asia, Oceania, Africa, and the Americas.

"The airline serves more destinations non-stop from a single airport than any other airline in the world[9] and flies to 131 countries, more than any other airline. With an operational fleet of 24 cargo aircraft, the airline's cargo division Turkish Cargo serves 82 destinations.

"As of 2024, Turkish Airlines flies to 340 destinations (including cargo) in 129 countries, including 53 domestic points. In December 2024, the airline officially earned a Guinness World Record title for connecting the highest number of countries, 131." (Wikipedia)