Major airline makes Australia-first route possible from December

A major global airline has made a huge announcement about a new visitation port that will pave the way for an Australian-first flight route.

Following the success of its Melbourne to Istanbul route earlier this year, Turkish Airlines has announced Sydney will now be brought into the mix for flights headed to Istanbul.

From December, Australians will be able to board direct flights from Sydney to Istanbul (via Malaysia) and return, a key route that’s never been available for passengers out of the country’s busiest airport.

The service will then shift to non-stop service from a yet to be announced date in late 2026, offering those travelling from the east coast a direct portal into Turkiye. The start date of the route will depend on new aircraft delivery schedules.

Sydney airport welcomes the new route, which be an Australian first.

Sydney airport described the new route as a “groundbreaking service that will revolutionise travel between Australia and Europe”.

“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,” Sydney Airport CEO Scott Charlton said.

“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.”

While some will see the new route as the perfect gateway into Turkiye, others will be able to use the new service to onward travel to one of the more than 340 destinations across 130 countries on a one-stop itinerary offered by the airline.

Turkish Airways have launched a new route from Sydney to Istanbul (via Malaysia) before going non-stop in 2026.

The new route follows the airline debut into the Australian market in March this year, when the Istanbul to Melbourne route officially opened.

Following the inaugural flight from Istanbul into Melbourne, Minister for Jobs and Industry Natalie Hutchins said the service was “a significant milestone” for Victoria.

“Having such an important player in Australia is great for this whole country because it gives our travellers, our tourists, our businesses [and] our exporters more choice and more competition,” she said in March.

Professor Dr Ahmet Bolat, Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee of Turkish Airlines, said expanding into the Australian market follows “meticulous planning and extensive infrastructure developments”.

“Australia, with its breathtaking landscapes and warm-hearted people, now becomes the 130th country to join our expansive network, signifying our presence across six continents,” he added.

The special launch prices for Turkish Airlines’ Sydney to Istanbul flights are from $1489.

The launch prices are valid for travel between 12 September until 31 December 2024, and

4 December 2024 until 31 May 2025.