While it’s doubtful the airline will begin an Australian operation in 2023, as it predicted earlier this year, Turkish Airlines is at least a step closer to becoming the only mainland European carrier to link Australia and Europe with direct, and possibly nonstop, flights.
Turkish Airlines has now formally submitted its application to fly to Australia, which if successful, would allow it to commence flights to Melbourne and Sydney within the next 12 months.
According to Sky News Australia, Transport Minister Catherine King confirmed she had just received the application.
In more encouraging news – for those looking for extra capacity to Europe, which most observers believe Australia needs – Qantas has chosen not to oppose the Turkish Airlines application.
This comes after the flying kangaroo became embroiled in the controversy around the rejection of Qatar Airways’ application to increase flights down under.
With the runway to Aussie flights a little clearer for Turkish, Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG) CEO Graham ‘Skroo’ Turner says the TK’s application is “good news” for Australia.
“It’s a really good move,” Turner told Sky.
“Most Australians don’t know too much about this airline but it’s one of the largest international airlines in the world, in terms of the number of international flights it flies. And it does make you wonder about the Qatar decision.”
Price drop?
On airfares, Turner said the biggest impact of Turkish Airlines’ entry into Australia would come “through the Middle East or onto Europe and the UK, because this is where we’re very short of capacity, very short of seats, and Turkish, generally, I believe can fly directly from their main base in Istanbul through to Australia”.
“So it will make a significant difference depending of course when they start flying, and how many flights they actually are allowed,” he added.
In June, Turkish Airlines all but confirmed it would commence flights to Melbourne later this year, saying the MEL service would operate “three times weekly and with a stop in Singapore”. Karryon readers subsequently expressed their excitement about the probable service.
The carrier even held a glitzy gala event for 450 people at Crown Melbourne to build excitement around the service.
