Turkish Airlines is stretching its wings further, with the airline planning to launch a service to Sydney, Austraila.
The new service will start on the 5th of December 2024, operating four times a week. The service to Sydney will operate initially via Kula Lumpur International Airport (Malaysia), with the intention of the route being converted into a non-stop service at a later date.
It will be offered as a fifth-freedom flight, allowing passengers to book Kula Lumpur to Syndey srgement, as well as Istanbul to Sydney
The Sydney to Istanbul via Kuala Lumpur route will be operated on an A350-900 with 329 seats available onboard: 32 in Business Class (in a 1-2-1 formation) and 297 in Economy Class ((in a 3-3-3 formation).
It will provide passengers with a seamless connection to Istanbul, where travellers can access a network of more than 340 destinations across 130 countries on a one-stop itinerary.
In Quotes
Sydney Airport CEO, Scott Charlton said:
“This announcement of direct flights marks a significant milestone for travel to Europe, offering passengers seamless access to hundreds of destinations from Turkish Airlines’ Istanbul hub.
“We are proud that Turkish Airlines chose Sydney and NSW for their first non-stop service which is a strong endorsement of everything our city and state has to offer. In the meantime, passengers will get to experience Turkish Airlines’ award-winning service from Sydney to Istanbul via Kuala Lumpur in December 2024.
“With more than 15,000 Turkish-born Australians in New South Wales¹ and Türkiye consistently rated as one of the top destinations for Australian travellers, we’re confident this service will be strongly supported.“Today’s announcement is also incredibly important for the Sydney and NSW economies and speaks to the impact of international aviation in supporting our visitor economy.
“We’re looking forward to Turkish Airlines inaugural flight and growing their services in the years to come.”
Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Bolat said:
“Today marks a significant milestone for Turkish Airlines as we proudly commence our journey into Sydney Airport. This new route not only enhances our global network but also reaffirms our commitment to connecting passengers with new opportunities and experiences.
“Sydney represents a vibrant gateway to the Southern Hemisphere, and we are thrilled to offer our travellers unparalleled access to this dynamic city.
“This expansion underscores our dedication to growing our network and providing exceptional service, bridging continents and bringing people closer together.”
NSW Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham said:
“I am thrilled that Turkish Airlines is touching down in Sydney for the first time, providing European travellers with direct access to our state’s world-class visitor experiences.
“The NSW Government has worked closely with Sydney Airport and Turkish Airlines to secure this new service. Sydney is the gateway to Australia and supporting this new route holds enormous potential for the growth of the state’s visitor economy.”
Growing Austraila
Australia has been high on the agenda for Turkish Airlines for some years – with the airline committing to initially to Melbourne (and launching a service there, and now Sydney – two of the bigger centres where they can attract customers.
Whilst a non-stop route might have been preferred, it seems this is not viable for the airline at this time – although with the Airbus A350-1000s on the way, that could pave the way for the type to be used on an Ultra Long Haul Route.
As for Sydney Airport – it remains a draw for airlines with Batik Air Indonesia, Bamboo Airways, SriLankan Airlines, Thai AirAsia X, T’way AirVietjet Air and Juneyao Air all starting services at some point over the past two years.
It’ll be interesting to see who hangs around – and who moves to West Sydney Airport when it opens. For long-haul carriers, it will offer something that Sydney Kingsford Airport doesn’t… 24/7 operations.
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