Turkish Airlines has implemented wide-ranging network cuts for the upcoming 2026/27 winter season, which begins on October 25 and runs through to March 27 next year. Last week, the Turkish flag carrier removed 578 weekly flights from its timetable compared to its original schedule. Within the former Yugoslav region, the reductions currently affect Tivat, Sarajevo, Podgorica and Zagreb, with further adjustments possible.
Turkish Airlines will suspend operations to Tivat for the entire upcoming winter season. The carrier had initially planned to maintain three weekly flights between Istanbul and the Montenegrin coastal city, matching frequencies from the previous winter. However, while Turkish Airlines also scheduled the route last winter, it ultimately suspended operations in January for the remainder of the season following the temporary introduction of visas for Turkish nationals by Montenegro. This time, no flights are planned for the full duration of the winter season.
In Sarajevo, Turkish Airlines will reduce operations from the originally planned fourteen weekly flights to twelve throughout the winter season. The adjustment comes shortly after Sarajevo Airport’s management held talks with representatives from Turkish Airlines. Sarajevo Airport noted, “The discussions touched on the current challenges facing the aviation industry, including the global situation marked by jet fuel shortages and broader market disruptions. Despite a reduction in flights during the summer season as a result of these circumstances, representatives from Turkish Airlines emphasised that the Bosnia and Herzegovina market, and Sarajevo in particular, remains of significant importance to the airline. Both sides agreed that under such conditions, strengthening mutual cooperation and coordination is crucial to maintaining stability and ensuring the continuity of air operations”.
Turkish Airlines will also reduce flights between Istanbul and Podgorica from the planned 21 weekly to eighteen per week. However, this remains above last winter’s level, when the airline operated fourteen weekly services. On the other hand, the carrier will cut operations to Zagreb from the sixteen to seventeen weekly rotations maintained last winter, depending on the month, to fourteen weekly flights.
