Turkish Airlines expands codeshare deals with TAP Air Portugal and Icelandair, marking a significant step in the carrier’s global network growth strategy. Announced during the 81st IATA Annual General Meeting in New Delhi on June 4, 2025, the expanded partnerships will open up new travel opportunities between Europe, South America, Africa, and Asia, as well as improve seamless connections for leisure and business travelers alike.
As the airline that flies to more countries than any other, Turkish Airlines continues to use codeshare partnerships as a key tool in unlocking new destinations, optimizing its global reach, and enhancing the passenger experience through streamlined bookings and route integration.
Turkish Airlines Expands Codeshare Deals to New Markets
The enhanced agreements with TAP Air Portugal and Icelandair introduce new destinations and more connectivity options to the respective carriers’ networks. Through these joint efforts, passengers will benefit from smoother transfers, more itinerary flexibility, and expanded access to popular and emerging travel markets.
For Turkish Airlines, the agreements are more than route expansion—they represent a continued push for strategic collaborations that enhance tourism and trade flows while reinforcing its position as a global aviation leader.
TAP Air Portugal Partnership: From Lisbon to Bodrum and Beyond
Under the renewed agreement with TAP Air Portugal, the two Star Alliance carriers are expanding their codeshare coverage to include Brazil, Morocco, Qatar, Mauritius, and popular Turkish coastal destinations such as Dalaman and Bodrum. This will provide travelers in both Türkiye and Portugal with an enriched network of leisure and business destinations.
Bilal Ekşi, CEO of Turkish Airlines, said: “We are pleased to further strengthen our long-standing partnership with TAP Air Portugal. Enhanced scope of the new arrangement offers greater flexibility and a wider range of travel options, while contributing to the development of commercial and tourism relations between our countries.”
Similarly, Luís Rodrigues, CEO of TAP Air Portugal, emphasized the strategic value of the expanded deal: “Because of our network structure, we need to find intelligent ways to connect us to the East. Cooperating with great partners is our way forward. This will provide our global passengers and our Portuguese community with increased options to visit new and exciting places using our Turkish Airlines partner.”
This extended partnership is expected to boost tourism between Southern Europe and Türkiye, while opening up further opportunities in Brazil and the broader Lusophone world, a strong market for TAP.
Icelandair Partnership: New Direct Link Between Reykjavik and Istanbul
The second announcement from Turkish Airlines involves a codeshare expansion with Icelandair. Starting September 5, 2025, Icelandair will launch direct flights between Reykjavik and Istanbul, operating twice weekly during the winter season. These flights will be integrated into the carriers’ existing codeshare framework.
Turkish Airlines will add its marketing code to Icelandair’s new Reykjavik–Istanbul route, while Icelandair will place its code on Turkish Airlines flights to Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. This strategic collaboration will enhance connectivity between Iceland and destinations across three continents.
Bilal Ekşi stated: “This cooperation goes beyond a commercial partnership. It represents a strategic alignment between two trusted carriers. By launching direct flights between Reykjavik and Istanbul and integrating our networks, we are opening the door to new traffic flows and connectivity options between Iceland, Türkiye and beyond.”
Bogi Nils Bogason, CEO of Icelandair, added: “Building on the partnership with Turkish Airlines will offer travelers even greater connectivity and seamless travel options across our combined networks. The expansion of our codeshare partnership reflects our shared commitment to service excellence, building a stronger global network and unlocking new opportunities for growth.”
Star Alliance Synergies and Seamless Global Travel
Both TAP Air Portugal and Turkish Airlines are members of Star Alliance, and while Icelandair is not, the cooperation aligns with broader industry trends where legacy carriers form joint partnerships to boost reach, share passengers, and reduce network gaps.
These enhanced codeshare agreements contribute to Turkish Airlines’ ambition of creating a highly integrated global system that offers:
- One-ticket convenience for multiple-leg journeys across continents
- Aligned frequent flyer programs for mileage accrual and redemption
- Coordinated flight schedules to minimize layover times
- Expanded tourism flows into underserved but high-demand regions
Passengers originating from cities like Lisbon or Reykjavik will now find it easier to connect to destinations such as Phuket, Doha, Cape Town, or São Paulo with a single itinerary.
Broader Impact on Tourism and Trade
The expanded TAP and Icelandair partnerships are expected to have ripple effects across multiple sectors, particularly tourism, hospitality, and international commerce. By improving access to secondary destinations like Bodrum or Mauritius and reinforcing gateway hubs like Istanbul, the collaborations cater to a growing traveler preference for streamlined and exploratory journeys.
In the context of rising global travel demand in 2025, Turkish Airlines’ focus on connectivity supports not only its competitive positioning but also regional economic development. As more travelers opt for multi-country itineraries and value-added experiences, these codeshare expansions enable scalable, flexible routing for leisure and business alike.
As Turkish Airlines expands codeshare deals, the airline continues to act as a central connector in global aviation. Its partnerships with TAP Air Portugal and Icelandair demonstrate how network collaboration can turn geographical distance into opportunity and offer customers unrivaled access to a world of travel possibilities.
With future partnerships likely on the horizon, Turkish Airlines is reinforcing its brand as not just a carrier—but a gateway to global discovery.
