One of the world’s largest airlines will soon operate flights between Sydney and Istanbul.
Turkish Airlines will operate flights four times a week, with a stopover in Kuala Lumpur, starting from 5 December.
This is the first time the airline will fly from Sydney, in addition to the three weekly flights it already operates from Melbourne to the Turkish capital.
NSW Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham welcomed the new route which will help “provide European travellers with direct access to our state’s world-class tourism experiences”.
The state government expects the route to bring 68,620 inbound seats to Sydney, create 290 jobs and generate around $53 million in its first year alone.
“Sydney is the gateway to Australia and supporting this new route has huge potential for growing the state’s tourism economy,” Graham said.
A non-stop flight between Sydney and Istanbul has also been promised in the near future, giving Australians another option for travelling around Europe.
The addition could help reduce airfare prices due to increased competition.
Turkish Airlines has announced that it will operate its first flights from Sydney from 5 December after reaching an agreement with the New South Wales Government (pictured: Turkish Airlines aircraft)
The agreement will also enable Turkish Airlines to expand its extensive network of more than 340 destinations in over 120 countries.
Turkish Airlines President Professor Ahmet Bolat called the new route an important milestone.
“This new route not only enhances our global network but also reaffirms our commitment to connecting passengers with new opportunities and experiences,” he said.
‘Sydney represents a vibrant gateway to the southern hemisphere and we are delighted to offer our travellers unrivalled access to this dynamic city.
“This expansion underscores our dedication to growing our network and delivering exceptional service, bridging continents and bringing people together.”
The flight route will also help connect Australians to Turkey.
“With more than 15,000 Turkish-born Australians in New South Wales and Turkey consistently ranked as a top destination for Australian travellers, we are confident this service will be strongly supported,” Sydney Airport chief executive Scott Charlton said.
The flight route between Sydney and Istanbul will initially require a refuelling stop in Kuala Lumpur, but is promised to fly non-stop in the future, providing a unique route in and out of Europe.
It is also expected to increase competition in a diluted international flights market and help drive down prices for Australians looking to travel to Europe (pictured, Sydney Airport).
Qantas international boss Cam Wallace welcomed increased competition in Australian airspace.
“It keeps us on our toes and we want that competitive intensity,” he told the CAPA Airline Leaders Summit in Brisbane on Thursday.
Mr Wallace expects more competitors to fight for influence in the domestic market following the collapse of Rex and Bonza.
“History shows that there will be a third, fourth and fifth competitor (in the domestic market) because it is a very seductive industry,” he said.
“Constraints and challenges will always be there and the population base is relatively small; those things won’t change anytime soon, but for us competition is a good thing.”
