Is A New International Airline Expanding To Minnesota?
If you're looking to get out of Minnesota and head across the pond to Europe in 2025, you might soon have a new choice, as another international airline is eyeing adding non-stop flights here later this year.
The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) is the largest airport in the North Star State. So it's no surprise that a LOT of Minnesotans (and Iowans and Wisconsinites and others) head through the TSA checkpoints at MSP each year when traveling across the country and overseas.
It helps that you can fly to A LOT of different places directly from MSP without having to catch a connecting flight elsewhere. In fact, the airport says airlines at MSP served 163 nonstop destinations from the Land of 10,000 Lakes in 2023, up from 156 destinations in 2023 and 145 destinations in 2022. And there could soon be one more new destination added to that list later this year.
ALSO INTERESTING: The Surprising Fact About MSP Airport You May Not Know
Did you know that 18 different airlines fly in and out of MSP? Here's the current line-up:
+ Aer Lingus
+ Air Canada
+ AirFrance
+ Alaska Airlines
+ Allegiant Airlines
+ American Airlines
+ Condor Airlines
+ Delta Air Lines
+ Denver Air
+ Frontier Airlines
+ Icelandair
+ KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
+ Lufthansa Airlines
+ Spirit Airlines
+ Southwest Airlines
+ Sun Country Airlines
+ United Airlines
+ WestJet
Those 18 airlines helped MSP set a record for international travelers last year. In facs 3,569,721 international travelers used MSP in 2024, beating the previous record set in 2019. Airlines at MSP served 32 international destinations last year — matching the record level set in 2019.
And now, there's word that Turkish Airlines is likely going to become the 19th airline to offer non-stop flights from MSP. That's the word from the travel site, Thrifty Traveler, which indicated that it'll be not if, but *when* Turkish Airlines will begin service from Minnesota in 2025.
They noted Turkish Airlines CEO Ahmet Bolat revealed those plans during a management meeting in January.
'According to a translation of Turkish media first spotted by Ishrion Aviation, Bolat said nonstops between Minneapolis and Istanbul could begin “in April or May,”' Thrifty Traveler reported.
Apparently, Turkish Airlines identified Minnesota as a possible destination last summer, as well, Thrifty Traveler went on to say. So while there's no official word for now, don't be surprised if you'll be able to fly from MSP to Istanbul Airport (IGA) sometime later this year.
On the other hand, if you'd rather spend your time off on a staycation here in Minnesota, keep scrolling to check out some amazing vacation rentals available right in our own backyard!
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