Turkish Airlines Confirms Schedule for Inaugural Flights to Australia

Turkish Airlines has announced the official schedule for its highly anticipated flights to Australia, bringing an end to months of speculation. The airline is gearing up to launch its first service on March 15, with three weekly flights between Istanbul and Melbourne, via Singapore Changi Airport (SIN). Initial flights will be operated by the 787-9 aircraft, with plans to switch to Airbus A350-900 later on.

Earlier this month, Turkish Airlines hinted at its plans to fly to Australia but refrained from disclosing specific details. While Singapore was the prime choice for connecting flights due to its partnership with Star Alliance member Singapore Airlines, the carrier had also been exploring other potential stopovers.

Excitement surrounding the announcement was palpable, as Turkish Airlines Chairman Ahmet Bolat expressed his satisfaction with the confirmed flight date. Bolat added that the airline has future plans to expand operations in Australia, with increased flight frequencies and additional destinations.

Flight durations on the Istanbul-Melbourne route will vary, but layovers in Singapore are expected to be approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes in both directions. Following the launch of this service, Turkish Airlines will become the sole European airline to operate flights to Melbourne Airport (MEL), marking the 346th destination in their extensive network.

Jim Parashos, Chief of Aviation at MEL, emphasized the advantages Turkish Airlines’ arrival will bring for Australians, enabling convenient connections to Turkey and beyond. He highlighted Istanbul’s unique geographical position, straddling two continents, and its significance as a global transit hub.

With Melbourne being home to Australia’s largest Turkish community, the new route is expected to cater not only to business and leisure travelers but also to visiting friends and relatives (VFR) traffic.

In December, the Australian government granted Turkish Airlines an increase in flight frequencies, from seven to 21 per week. This includes service to Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, and the upcoming Western Sydney International Airport. The approval also permits fifth-freedom traffic rights at two points in Asia or the Middle East between Istanbul and Australia.

Turkish Airlines has expressed its intention to operate nonstop flights between Istanbul and Australia in the future. However, due to the unavailability of suitable long-haul aircraft until at least 2026, this plan is expected to be delayed. The Airbus A350-1000 and the Boeing 777X are among the aircraft capable of flying this distance.

According to preliminary data provided by Sabre Market Intelligence, there has been substantial passenger traffic between Istanbul and Melbourne, totaling 20,500 passengers during the first 11 months of 2023. This marks a significant increase from the 2019 calendar year.

Turkish Airlines has been working in collaboration with Australian domestic carrier Rex to ensure seamless connectivity at both ends of the new route.