The government of the Soviet Union gave Tupolev instructions to develop a passenger aircraft capable of traveling intercontinental distances, and based on the Tupolev Tu-95 strategic bomber . The result was a large passenger plane equipped with 4 turboprop engines, which was similar to the Antonov An-22 that would enter service some time later. The Tupolev Tu-114 turned out to be a surprise to Western observers, as they found that a propeller-driven aircraft could operate at a speed similar to jet-powered aircraft. In addition, at its time it was the largest passenger plane, being able to accommodate between 120 and 220 passengers.

The Tu-114 had a very short operational life, operating only from 1962 to 1976 . While in service, the aircraft was known for its reliability, speed, and fuel economy (it used less fuel than, for example, the Ilyushin Il-62 , which replaced it).

In regular service with Aeroflot , the aircraft was the first to be used for flights to international destinations, such as Copenhagen , Havana , Montreal , New Delhi , Paris , Belgrade and Tokyo (the latter destination in cooperation with Japan Airlines ). When the Tu-114 was replaced by the Ilyushin Il-62 on those routes, it began to occupy the longest routes within domestic flights . At the end of its commercial life it accumulated approximately 14,000 flight hours, and after its commercial service, it was used by the Red Army and the Soviet Air Force until the early 1980s .