Starting December 4, 2024, Turkish Airlines will operate a new service connecting Istanbul with Sydney via Kuala Lumpur. It will be the second Australian city the airline serves after Melbourne, which it has been flying to since March of this year (with a stop in Singapore).
According to details from the Sydney Airport, later on, Turkish Airlines will operate nonstop flights to Istanbul, further strengthening its role as a bridge between Europe and Australia. Sydney, in particular, is responsible for 38% of all traffic between the two markets and will be the only Australian airport with regular flights from two European airlines (British Airways also flies to Sydney).
Turkish Airlines will offer four weekly flights between Istanbul and Sydney, operated by Airbus A350-900 aircraft with a capacity for 329 passengers, 32 in Business and 297 in Economy.
From Istanbul, flight TK174 will depart on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 15:15, arriving in Kuala Lumpur at 6:20 the following day. From the Malaysian capital, it will take off at 7:40, arriving in Sydney at 18:30.
In the opposite direction, flight TK175 will depart from Sydney Airport on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays at 20:40, arriving in Kuala Lumpur at 1:55 the next day, from where it will depart at 3:55, arriving in Istanbul at 10:15. Promotional fares start at USD 999.
“This announcement of direct flights is a significant milestone for travel to Europe, providing passengers with seamless access to hundreds of destinations via the Turkish Airlines hub in Istanbul,” said Scott Charlton, CEO of Sydney Airport.
“We are proud that Turkish Airlines has chosen Sydney and New South Wales for its first nonstop service, which is a great endorsement of everything our city and state have to offer. Meanwhile, passengers will be able to experience Turkish Airlines’ award-winning service from Sydney to Istanbul via Kuala Lumpur in December,” added the executive, noting that over 15,000 Turkish residents live in New South Wales, making Turkey one of the main destinations for Australian travelers, which will further strengthen demand for the new route.
Dr. Ahmet Bolat, Chairman of the Board of Turkish Airlines, said, “This new route not only enhances our global network but also reaffirms our commitment to connecting passengers with new opportunities and experiences.”
Turkish Airlines is the eighth airline to launch operations in Sydney in the last two years, following Batik Air Indonesia, Bamboo Airways, SriLankan Airlines, Thai AirAsia X, T’way Air, Vietjet, and Juneyao Air.
In addition, Sydney will be the second city in the Southern Hemisphere where Turkish Airlines will begin service in December. On the 12th, Santiago de Chile will be the next, with four weekly flights.
