Above: Gala dinner host Sylvia Jeffreys
It’s taken three decades longer than expected but air connectivity between Turkey and Australia is now very much a reality.
Turkish Airlines launched services from Istanbul to Melbourne back in March and on Friday their first flight touched down in Sydney.
At a gala dinner at the Sofitel Wentworth Hotel to mark the historic occasion, Mr Ufuk Gezer, Turkish Ambassador to Australia, said flights between the two countries were first proposed back in 1991.
“This was a long wait, more than 40 years, actually, but it finally came and I think the wait was worth it,” Mr Gezer told the audience of dignitaries, travel industry and media.
“It is a great honour to stand here to welcome the first Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to Sydney. This fight connects not only two iconic cities, but also deepens the ties between Turkey and New South Wales.”
Turkish Airlines is the most “connected” airline in the world, with an extensive network of more than 350 destinations.
The airline will now operate four direct services a week from Sydney to Istanbul via Kuala Lumpur, with a daily service on the horizon ahead of direct Sydney-Istanbul flights in 2026.
“These flights will create unparalleled opportunities for Turkish businesses to access the Australian market via Sydney,” added Mr Gezer.
“Likewise, it will open doors for Australians to explore Turkey’s rich cultural heritage and growing role as a global hub, particularly through Istanbul, a city where history meets innovation.”
Destination NSW estimates this new service will generate more than $53 million in incremental visitor expenditure over the first year and support more than 290 local jobs in NSW.
“This is the 50th airline to join the Sydney Airport network and what an iconic addition that it’s Turkish Airlines, the most connected airline in the world, as our 50th partner,” said Mr Scott Charlton, CEO of Sydney Airport.
“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. So we’d like to thank Turkish Airlines for making Sydney Airport their hub in Australia.”
On the new route, Turkish Airlines CEO Bilal Ekşi, stated: “This momentous occasion marks Turkish Airlines’ longest flight path in history, as we happily add our second Australian city to our flight network.
“The arrival of our first flight from Istanbul to Sydney represents our ongoing commitment to connect travellers across the globe, providing a seamless gateway between Europe and Australia with the comfort and hospitality of Turkish Airlines.
“Once we receive our aircraft capable of conducting the journey in a single leap, we look forward to further expanding our offering in the near future with Australia’s first non-stop flights to Istanbul.”
https://www.turkishairlines.com/
