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New partnership links Southwest and Turkish Airlines across the Atlantic

By Mark Reif Dec 31, 2025 8:52 AM

Aircraft, Airliner, Airplane — Southwest Airlines / Southwest Airlines

Beginning in early 2026, Southwest and Turkish Airlines will join forces, offering passengers single-ticket, transatlantic journeys. The routes span the globe, courtesy of Turkish Airlines’ global hub in Istanbul, which accesses 132 countries and 350 destinations, including 10 airports in the U.S. where Southwest connects. The collaboration will allow international customers to connect via both airlines’ shared gateway airports via tickets purchased through Turkish Airlines, travel websites, and travel agents.

Southwest customers gain expanded access to Europe and beyond starting in 2026

The collaboration unlocks wide-ranging global travel through Istanbul. From there, Turkish Airlines visits noted destinations like Paris, London, Cairo, Buenos Aires, Aries, Melbourne, and more. Continents include North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Australia, and South America. For a full destination list, travelers can visit the Turkish Airlines website.

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Commenting on collaboration, Southwest Airlines Chief Operating Officer Andrew Watterson said: “Both Southwest and Turkish Airlines are known for the warmth of our Employees, the authenticity of our Hospitality, and the reliability of our airline operations. We’re grateful for this new relationship that will usher thousands of international travelers each week through experiences around the globe that showcase the best of both carriers and globally enhances awareness of the Southwest brand.”

This latest partnership follows Southwest’s six recent agreements with overseas airlines in 2025. That bolsters its network reach to destinations in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. It’s been an active year for the airline as it introduced redesigned cabin spaces and assigned and extra legroom seating (starting January 27, 2026).

Mark Reif is a storyteller focused on the intersection of outdoor culture, travel, and design. From the peaks of Banff to the… Read Full Bio

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