Marking the return of a mainland European carrier to Sydney Airport, Turkish Airlines touched down in the NSW capital for the first time on Friday evening.
Following the launch of Melbourne flights earlier this year, Sydney becomes the second Australian city to join Turkish Airlines’ expanding network, which comprises over 350 destinations across six continents.
The new flights will run four times weekly and are expected to drive tourism, trade and cultural exchange between Türkiye and Australia.
Flights are operated on Airbus A350-900 aircraft, offering 32 flatbed business class seats and 297 economy recliners for long-haul comfort.
More flights and non-stop service
Turkish is confident in the route. A fifth weekly flight has already been scheduled to start in June 2025, with plans for a non-stop Sydney-Istanbul service in 2026, making it the first direct route between Australia and Türkiye.
“This momentous occasion marks the longest flight path in Turkish Airlines’ history as we proudly add our second Australian city to our network,” Turkish Airlines CEO Bilal Ekşi said as the flight touched down.
“The arrival of our first flight from Istanbul to Sydney represents our ongoing commitment to connecting travellers across the globe, providing a seamless gateway between Europe and Australia with the comfort and hospitality Turkish Airlines is known for.
“Once we receive aircraft capable of completing the journey in a single flight, we look forward to further expanding our services with Australia’s first non-stop flights to Istanbul in the near future.”
High hopes
Sydney Airport CEO Scott Charlton said the new service boosts the gateway’s international network, giving travellers more options to Europe via Turkish’s Istanbul hub.
“Turkish Airlines will bring added competition to the market, and with over 15,000 Turkish-born Australians residing in New South Wales and Türkiye consistently being a top choice for Australian travellers, we are confident this new route will see strong demand,” he remarked.
“Turkish Airlines has been recognised as the best airline in Europe by Skytrax, and it’s fantastic that so many passengers from Sydney will now have the opportunity to experience their world-class service first-hand.
“The arrival of Turkish Airlines not only strengthens their offering in our region but also highlights the vital role Sydney plays as a global aviation gateway.
“We’re also delighted they have chosen Sydney to host their inaugural non-stop services in the years ahead.”
In a big boost to local tourism, the route is projected to contribute A$53 million to NSW’s visitor economy.
“Turkish Airlines’ arrival in Sydney is a landmark moment that offers a new high-quality option for local travellers to Europe and a boost in visitor numbers to Sydney,” NSW Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham said.
Glitzy gathering
To celebrate the arrival of Turkish Airlines in Sydney, the carrier hosted a big bash at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, attended by a host of travel dignitaries, industry partners, friends, media and other stakeholders.
Guests were greeted by various Turkish-inspired activations including a TK 360 video booth, traditional Turkish arts and calligraphy, and Turkish tea, coffee and sweets. Following this, a main event emceed by television presenter Sylvia Jeffreys featured traditional live Turkish music, giveaways and plenty of food and drink.
Turkish Airlines CEO Bilal Ekşi, Sydney Airport CEO Scott Charlton and Türkiye’s Ambassador to Australia Ufuk Gezer were among the VIP guests in attendance, with the three dignitaries highlighting the strong cultural and economic ties between Australia and Türkiye.
To celebrate the launch, TK has released special fares from Sydney to Istanbul from AU$1,489, available for travel until June 2025.