[cwoodward]

It seems from a recent interview with Turkish Airlines Chairman Prof. Dr. Ahmet Bolat that nothing is finalised re adding Australia to the Turkish network. Also the news that they have selected Melbourne as the destination is very premature.
It seems that with their present equipment the distance means that they would need to reduce the number of seats sold to a level that they are not happy about.

It seems very likely that the service to Australia will happen but seems that it may not be for some considerable time.

4 users thanked author for this post.

AMcWhirter, LetsFlyNow, AndrewinHK, FDOS

[AMcWhirter]

Thanks for the update cwoodward.

I had started a Turkish Airlines thread on May 12 regarding this route. I received a fair amount of interest.

Recently hopes were high that the route would proceed as planned. But the CEO visited Melbourne a couple of days ago and more information has become available.

Although it’s reported that the CEO still *hopes* to launch flights in mid-December nothing can be guaranteed at this stage.

When the route does launch the plan is to deploy B787 aircraft and operate IST-MEL as a one-stop service via Singapore.

TK’s CEO says he will apply for fifth-freedom rights SIN-MEL.

TK would aim for non-stop flights when it takes delivery of longer range aircraft but this may be at least five years away.

Certainly as a sixth-freedom carrier TK ought to have no issues in filling these flights. If you look at its European network it serves so many main and secondary destinations throughout mainland Europe and the UK.

Financial Review [paywall] reports “The setback appears at odds with the Albanese government’s objective of fostering airline competition, af etr it knocked back Qatar’s application send more flights to Australia.”

https://www.afr.com/companies/transport/turkish-airlines-grounded-before-launch-as-minister-delays-air-rights-20230723-p5dqjd

[LetsFlyNow]

Turkish has been teasing us with flights to Australia for so so long. When Executive Traveller announced that TK was holding a press conference in Melbourne i’m sure we all expected that flights to MEL & a launch date would be announced.
I was rather disappointed to read that TK hadn’t even decided on which australian destination to serve and was still trying to get 5th freedom rights between Singapore and Australia.
What was the point of the press conference? 😉

For most of Europe it’ll mean 2 stops to Oz so might not be so will not have a competitive advantage to the gulfies or SQ. TK will still be attractive as they serve even smaller regional airports in Europe.
Anyway, i hope they do get to launch to route soon.

2 users thanked author for this post.

AMcWhirter, EU_Flyer

[onajetplane]

Seems like Turkish Airlines have now officially submitted their application to fly to both Melbourne and Sydney. Sky News was reporting the Australian Transport Minister as having confirmed receipt of such. Interesting to note that a few Australian media outlets are already picking up on the fact that Qantas does not appear to have objected given the fallout from their engagement on Qatar Airways recent requests for more flights!

[cwoodward]

Turkish will not be flying to Australia anytime soon it seems and probably not prior to Q2 2024 at the earliest.
Its reported today that the Australian Transport Minister and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority has not granted Turkish the necessary licence permissions despite the formal application being lodged some 50 days ago.

Most media reports expect that the licences will eventually be granted but flights will not non stop as Turkish does not have equipment
to make the distance. The 21 hour flight will be via Singapore and the destination is still likely to be Melbourne but only 3 times a week.

These flights look to offer no real advantage at all to passengers over travelling on the existing Turkish daily (10.5 hour) flight to HKG and onward many times DAILY with Cathay (9 hours) Qantas or their official codeshare partner Hong Kong Airlines

[cwoodward]

Turkish will not be flying to Australia anytime soon it seems and probably not prior to Q2 2024 at the earliest.

Its reported today that the Australian Transport Minister and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority has not granted Turkish the necessary licence permissions despite the formal application being lodged some 50 days ago.

Most media reports expect that the licences will eventually be granted but flights will not non stop as Turkish does not have equipment
to make the distance. The 21 hour flight will be via Singapore and the destination is still likely to be Melbourne but only 3 times a week.

These flights look to offer no real advantage at all to passengers over travelling on the existing Turkish daily (10.5 hour) flight to HKG and onward many times DAILY with Cathay (9 hours) Qantas or their official codeshare partner Hong Kong Airlines

[Author]

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