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Star Alliance carrier Turkish Airlines has made a change to its operation between Istanbul Airport (IST) and Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD). Instead of its current routing via Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL), the service will now operate via Singapore Changi Airport (SIN). Turkish commenced its first Australian route to Sydney in 2024, and has since added a one-stop service to the country’s second-largest city of Melbourne Airport (MEL).
These changes will see both Turkish routes to Australia now operate via Singapore, while the airline awaits delivery of the Airbus A350-1000, which it has suggested will attempt the route nonstop. The new routing to Sydney via Singapore will take effect from October 26 through until March 27.
Turkish Airlines Flights To Sydney Will Now Operate Via Singapore
As first reported by Aeroroutes, Turkish filed changes to its Sydney service taking effect for the Northern Hemisphere winter season. The five weekly flights will now operate via Singapore, a Star Alliance hub for onward flights to Australia. These flights will complement the existing three weekly flights already flying via Singapore to Melbourne.
Turkish operates the Airbus A350-900 on its route to Sydney, with the flights that will operate via Singapore following the schedule below; note all outbound flights from Istanbul depart on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday:
Both Australia Bound Services Will Now Operate Via The Lion City
As already mentioned, Turkish’s three weekly flights from Istanbul to Melbourne currently operate via Singapore; the move for Turkish to adjust its Sydney-bound service via Kuala Lumpur to Singapore will represent a significant increase in the airline’s presence at Changi from 17 to 22 weekly flights. Already Turkish operates up to two daily flights between Istanbul and Changi, in addition to its Australian services.
Turkish has ambitious plans to expand its operations to Australia, with the airline already targeting nonstop services between Istanbul and Sydney with the Airbus A350-1000. Once the airline takes delivery of this ultra-long-haul capable aircraft, it could change the way travelers fly between Australia and Europe, with the Turkish carrier permitted to operate up to 35 flights a week between the two countries, significantly more than its Middle Eastern competitors.
Turkish also has the upper hand for onward travel to Europe or Africa, with the airline operating an extensive network of flights to around 125 airports in Europe and 65 destinations in Africa.
While the carrier has its ultra-long-haul sights set, it is also mulling an expansion in the US.
Where Else Might Turkish Airlines Fly Down Under?
While Sydney and Melbourne are already flying, the airline has plans to introduce nonstop flights to Australia in the near future. Melbourne and Sydney remain the current focus; however, the carrier has expressed interest in serving other Australian cities such as Perth and Brisbane as the airline’s fleet continues to grow.
Across the Tasman Sea, Turkish has also considered serving the New Zealand city of Auckland, with the airline suggesting last year it was planning services via Singapore, and the potential of nonstop services in the future. At this time, no airline connects New Zealand to Europe nonstop, unlike Australia, which has nonstop services with Qantas to the likes of London, Paris and Rome.
Turkish is the leading carrier that serves more destinations from a single airport than any other airline globally. It flies to more countries than any other carrier, and has a fleet of more than 500 aircraft. The airline, which has been a member of the Star Alliance since 2008, has an extensive reach both domestically and internationally, and its changes to its Australia service will no doubt be off the back of further plans for expansion to the country in the future.
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