By Zheng Wanyin in Farnborough, England |

chinadaily.com.cn |

Murat Seker, chairman of the board of directors and the executive committee of Turkish Airlines. [Photo provided to China Daily]

China has long been a premium and valuable source of both leisure and business travelers for Turkish Airlines and the carrier aims to strengthen its role as a bridge between the two countries as China-Turkiye relations gain momentum, said Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of Turkish Airlines Murat Seker.

"We are a leading connector that bridges East and West through our uniquely located home base, Istanbul. As we increase the connectivity, more Chinese business and leisure travelers will come to Turkiye," he told China Daily in an exclusive interview during last week's Farnborough International Airshow 2026.