Summary
- Turkish Airlines has submitted an application r to supply flights to Sydney and Melbourne.
- If approved, the airline may very well be granted several weekly roundtrip flights between Turkey and Australia.
- The carrier plans to extend frequencies to each day flights to each Sydney and Melbourne in the longer term.
Turkish Airlines is moving forward in its decision to supply flights to Australia. The airline has submitted its application to the country’s Transport Minister, requesting to start flights to Sydney and Melbourne.
With regulatory approval, the airline could reportedly be granted greater than five weekly roundtrip flights between Turkey and Australia. The carrier hopes to start the service by the tip of the yr.
The applying was received
In accordance with Sky News, Australia’s Transport Minister Catherine King confirmed that she received the appliance from Turkish Airlines for flights to Sydney and Melbourne. If approved, the airline would have the option to fly to Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport and Melbourne Airport inside the subsequent yr.
Photo: Unaccompanied Media/Shutterstock
In July, ch-aviation reported that the carrier had plans to launch tri-weekly flights to Australia via Changi Airport in Singapore. As a result of the present bilateral air services agreement between Turkey and Australia, Turkish Airlines is supplied with as much as seven flights per week between the 2 countries. But, that number doesn’t seem enough because the carrier’s CEO Ahmet Bolat hoped the weekly roundtrip flights could be doubled to 14.
Moreover, Bolat reportedly desires to sell tickets on flights between Australia and Singapore, due to fifth freedom rights. Otherwise, the CEO believes the planned service wouldn’t be economically successful.
When will flights begin?
In an exclusive interview with the Executive Traveller, Turkish Airlines confirmed that flights would begin in mid-December. While not disclosing specifics, Bolat mentioned that the carrier was working through but explained that
The CEO said the airline is planning to operate the route with the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and has future intentions to spice up frequencies to 5 flights per week. With its strategic goal, Turkish Airlines hopes to extend frequencies to each day flights to Sydney and Melbourne, nevertheless it may very well be some time before that happens.
Bolat said to the Executive traveler. That process could reportedly take two years.
Istanbul-Singapore
Turkish Airlines already operates each day flights to Singapore from Istanbul on the 777-300ER, with flights arriving and departing at Terminal 1 at Changi Airport, the identical terminal that Qantas and Emirates operate from.
Including the stopover, the travel time between Sydney and Melbourne to Istanbul could be around 21 hours. Turkish Airlines’ 787-9s are each equipped with 30 flatbed business class seats configured in the identical design seen on Singapore Airlines Airbus A350s and Boeing 787-10s, in accordance with the Executive Traveller.
Photo: Turkish Airlines
Qantas is unopposed to Turkish Airlines’ application to start flights. The Australian flag carrier reportedly decided to not oppose the request after receiving backlash from not supporting Qatar’s bid to begin flying to the country.
Along with being in hot water over other matters, Qantas is now involved in a Senate committee inquiry following its decision to dam Qatar, in accordance with Sky News.