Turkish Airlines will launch a long-awaited daily flight from Atlanta to Istanbul starting May 2016. The flights will launch on Boeing 777-300ER jets between Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and Istanbul Ataturk Airport.

Atlanta will be the ninth U.S. city served by Turkish Airlines, along with Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C., Boston and San Francisco, as well as Miami where the carrier launches service in October 2015.

Turkish Airlines is a member of the Star Alliance and not a partner of Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines.

Delta operates nonstop flights during the summer to Istanbul from New York, but not from Atlanta, and is part of the SkyTeam alliance.

Hartsfield-Jackson last year launched a five-year international flight incentive program, offering up to $2 million a year in waived landing fees and matching promotional funds to airlines that start new international routes from Atlanta.

Turkish Airlines, www.turkishairlines.com