Hot corrosion in Na₂SO₄-V₂O₅ environments has been regarded as a major challenge in the destruction of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs). The present study introduces a new TBC (ZrO₂ 9.5Y₂O₃ 5.6Yb₂O₃ 5.2Gd₂O₃ (ZGYbY)) with enhanced resistance to hot corrosion compared to the yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ). ZGYbY and YSZ were applied on CoNiCrAlY, as a bond coat to nickel-based superalloy (IN738LC) using the atmospheric plasma spray (APS) technique. Hot corrosion behavior of TBCs was investigated in a cyclic approach (4 hours for each cycle) using Na₂SO₄-55 wt.% V₂O₅ salts at 950°C. The findings showed the higher hot corrosion resistance of ZGYbY TBC compared to YSZ coating system. Regarding the lower basicity of Yb₂O₃ and Gd₂O₃ (compared to Y₂O₃), the driving force for the reaction of Yb₂O₃/Gd₂O₃ + Na₂SO₄-55 wt.% V₂O₅ will be lower than that of Y₂O₃ + Na₂SO₄-55 wt.% V₂O₅. Moreover, the stabilizers in the zirconia coating could be dissolved by sodium sulfate and vanadium oxide at high temperatures giving rise to the dis-integrity of the TBCs.