Sydney Airport welcomes Turkish Airlines and Australia’s first non-s

Thursday 12 September 2024

• Turkish Airlines to launch inaugural Sydney service in December 2024
• Sydney Airport will also be the first airport in Australia to host non-stop services
• With four flights per week, Sydney Airport will be Turkish Airlines' largest port in Australia
• Turkish Airlines is the eighth new airline to join the airport in the last two years

Sydney Airport has today announced Turkish Airlines will join the airport's network of 50 airlines, with direct flights via Malaysia commencing four times per week from 5 December 2024, ahead of an Australian-first non-stop service from Sydney to Istanbul.

From 5 December 2024, the four direct services a week from Sydney to Istanbul via Kuala Lumpur will be operated on an A350-900 with 329 seats available onboard: 32 in Business Class and 297 in Economy Class.

This service will go on to become a non-stop service to Istanbul, opening a fast and convenient route to Türkiye, one of the world's most captivating destinations.

This groundbreaking service will revolutionise travel between Australia and Europe, providing passengers with a swift and seamless connection to Istanbul, where travellers can then access a network of more than 340 destinations across 130 countries on a one-stop itinerary, courtesy of Turkish Airlines' expansive global hub. Turkish Airlines also serves 110 European destinations, more than any other airline in the world.

Sydney Airport currently commands a 38% share of all Australia-Europe air traffic, and with the arrival of Turkish Airlines will be the only Australian airport to have two European carriers, reinforcing Sydney's status as the premier international gateway for the region. Destination NSW estimates this service will generate more than $53 million in incremental visitor expenditure over the first year and support more than 290 local jobs in NSW.

Sydney Airport CEO, Scott Charlton said: "This announcement of direct flights marks a significant milestone for travel to Europe, offering passengers seamless access to hundreds of destinations from Turkish Airlines' Istanbul hub.

"We are proud that Turkish Airlines chose Sydney and NSW for their first non-stop service which is a strong endorsement of everything our city and state has to offer. In the meantime, passengers will get to experience Turkish Airlines' award-winning service from Sydney to Istanbul via Kuala Lumpur in December 2024.
"With more than 15,000 Turkish-born Australians in New South Wales¹ and Türkiye consistently rated as one of the top destinations for Australian travellers, we're confident this service will be strongly supported.

"Today's announcement is also incredibly important for the Sydney and NSW economies and speaks to the impact of international aviation in supporting our visitor economy.

"We're looking forward to Turkish Airlines inaugural flight and growing their services in the years to come."

NSW Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham said: "I am thrilled that Turkish Airlines is touching down in Sydney for the first time, providing European travellers with direct access to our state's world-class visitor experiences.

"The NSW Government has worked closely with Sydney Airport and Turkish Airlines to secure this new service. Sydney is the gateway to Australia and supporting this new route holds enormous potential for the growth of the state's visitor economy."

Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Bolat said: "Today marks a significant milestone for Turkish Airlines as we proudly commence our journey into Sydney Airport. This new route not only enhances our global network but also reaffirms our commitment to connecting passengers with new opportunities and experiences.

"Sydney represents a vibrant gateway to the Southern Hemisphere, and we are thrilled to offer our travellers unparalleled access to this dynamic city.

"This expansion underscores our dedication to growing our network and providing exceptional service, bridging continents and bringing people closer together."

Destination NSW CEO Steve Cox said: "Turkish Airlines is one of the world's largest airlines and these new, direct flights will boost access to NSW from key European markets via Istanbul.

"The commencement of the service coincides with the busy summer period and will provide exceptional connectivity with cities across Europe for both leisure travellers and those visiting family and friends."

Turkish Airlines inaugural service from Istanbul will arrive on 5 December 2024 at 6.30pm AEST.

¹Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021 Census