Welcome to Australia, Turkish Airlines. The carrier that flies to more countries than any other airline has added Australia to its list of international destinations, touching down at Melbourne Airport – its 346th port – on Saturday night.
Scheduled to arrive in Melbourne at 8.40pm, flight TK168 landed in the Victorian capital at 8.44pm (pretty punctual for a first effort), before TK169 departed for Istanbul (via Singapore) at 11.20pm (scheduled for 10.30pm).
Turkish’s arrival in Melbourne marks several firsts.
Most obviously, it is the first time the 90-year-old carrier has operated a service to Australia, a market it is confident will take up the direct flights – thanks in part to Melbourne’s large Turkish population.
Secondly, Turkish’s arrival marks the first time any airline has operated direct flights from Australasia to Türkiye, a destination that straddles Europe and Asia and has a special connection to Australia through Gallipoli.
Moreover, TK’s arrival marks the return of a mainland European carrier to Australia, with British Airways the only other European airline to operate flights Down Under (Sydney-London via Singapore).
The new service will operate three times per week via Singapore (departing Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday) until the arrival of new long-range aircraft in Turkish’s fleet makes it possible to fly the route non-stop.
While the Istanbul-based carrier utilised its B777 aircraft for its inaugural flight to Tulllamarine, it intends to use its B787 Dreamliners and flagship A350s on the route from later this month.
Downward pressure on fares?
With the arrival of Turkish Airlines, Melbourne Airport is now served by a record 39 international carriers – and its CEO, Lorie Argus, is understandably excited by its debut.
“Turkish Airlines has an extensive network and flies to more countries than any other airline so this new competitor in the Australian market is fantastic news for consumers,” she said.
“We’ve worked closely with the Victorian State Government to bring Turkish Airlines to Melbourne, and we now look forward to growing their services over the coming years.”
Argus also expects the extra capacity will help lower airfares “which will ensure Victorian residents and businesses can stay connected with family, friends and clients around the world”.
“Melbourne is proudly home to the largest Turkish population in Australia, so we expect these flights will prove particularly popular with people looking to visit friends and relatives,” she added.
Victorian Minister for Jobs and Industry Natalie Hutchins said international air travel out of Melbourne “continues to go from strength to strength”.
“With more airlines choosing Melbourne as their destination of choice, we’re boosting tourism, trade, international education, business connections and local jobs,” she remarked.
Meanwhile, Minister for Small Business Natalie Suleyman said the new flights would help tourism and trade, create jobs and support small businesses.
Growing APAC influence
Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and Executive Committee Dr Ahmet Bolat said the carrier’s arrival fulfilled a long-held ambition to fly to the Australian continent.
“This achievement follows meticulous planning and extensive infrastructure developments, symbolising the successful bridging of Istanbul with a new and vibrant continent,” he said.
“The inauguration of our Melbourne route is a testament to our growing influence in the Asia-Pacific region and underscores our unwavering commitment to fostering connections between diverse cultures and communities across the globe.
“Through our unparalleled network, we are thrilled to offer our guests a gateway to global exploration, ensuring that our legacy of exceptional service quality continues to flourish in every corner of the world.”
Long-anticipated arrival
Turkish Airlines announced its intention to fly to Australia in June last year, saying it would commence flights in December 2023. After stalling on its Aussie launch, it then confirmed a start date of 16 March 2024, before finally bringing forward flights by two weeks to 2 March.
And don’t expect the airline to stop with Melbourne. After Federal Transport Minister Catherine King approved a proposal from Türkiye in December, Turkish Airlines is authorised to operate up to 35 flights a week in and out of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Western Sydney airports by 2025. So watch this space.
