Istanbul-based Turkish Airlines is significantly reducing its global footprint by suspending service to 18 international destinations as the aviation sector grapples with the fallout from the ongoing conflict in Iran.
The schedule changes, filed in late April 2026, target primarily low-traffic markets that have become financially unsustainable amid record jet fuel prices. Research from specialist sources confirms the list includes Aqaba in Jordan, Billund in Denmark, Bissau in Guinea-Bissau, Ferghana in Uzbekistan, Freetown in Sierra Leone, Havana in Cuba, Hurghada in Egypt, Juba in South Sudan, Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kirkuk and Najaf in Iraq, Leipzig in Germany, Libreville in Gabon, Luanda in Angola, Lusaka in Zambia, Monrovia in Liberia, Pointe Noire in the Republic of the Congo, and Turkistan in Kazakhstan.
Nine of these cities are in sub-Saharan Africa, where Turkish Airlines has long employed efficient triangular or terminator routing patterns to serve distant markets with limited local demand. These adjustments are expected to remove nearly 20 percent of the airline's African passenger capacity. Hurghada, a popular Egyptian resort destination served since 2012, will see its final flight in early June with no resumption planned.
Compounding the commercial decisions are mandatory suspensions to five Iranian cities—Esfahan, Mashhad, Shiraz, Tabriz, and Tehran—due to closed airspace resulting from the conflict that escalated in February 2026 with strikes involving US and Israeli forces. While placeholder schedules show possible Tehran resumption in June, this remains highly uncertain, with October viewed as more realistic for the others.
The root cause traces to the war's impact on energy markets. With key shipping routes like the Strait of Hormuz disrupted, jet fuel prices have approximately doubled, according to multiple reports from mainstream and specialist outlets. This has increased operating costs across the industry, leading airlines to cut marginal routes, raise fares, and in some cases impose fuel surcharges. Turkish Airlines' move aligns with similar capacity reductions announced by carriers across Europe and the Middle East.
Most of the 18 optional suspensions are slated for resumption in October 2026, though several African and Central Asian points may not return until March 2027. Havana, for example, had operated as a three-weekly Boeing 787 service tagged with Caracas until earlier this year. The changes are subject to further revision as the fuel situation evolves.
The Star Alliance member reported strong profits in 2025 but is now prioritizing cost control and network optimization. The suspensions follow a period of rapid network expansion, underscoring the vulnerability of long-haul, low-yield markets when fuel economics deteriorate rapidly. Passengers affected by the cancellations are being advised to check rebooking options or refunds as the airline adjusts its summer 2026 schedule.
This story forms part of a wider global trend, with European airlines collectively slashing thousands of flights through the peak travel season. Authorities continue to monitor the fuel supply situation, but no immediate resolution to the underlying geopolitical tensions appears imminent.