Turkish Airlines granted extra flights to Australia in new deal

Aussies hoping prices in airfares to Europe could drop in the new year have been given an early Christmas present.

Australians will soon have greater access to Europe after the government quietly approved a fivefold increase in Turkish Airlines flights.

Transport Minister Catherine King ticked off on the pre-Christmas agreement that could reduce airfares for flights to the Middle East and South-East Asia from 2024.

The carrier’s flights to Australia were set to begin with seven services weekly but plans updated over the weekend show it will start with 21 flights instead.

That capacity will increase to 28 a week from mid-2024 and 35 from mid-2025 – overtaking Qatar Airways' services to Australia.

Turkish Airlines is expected to launch services into Australia early next year with plans to fly direct services between the east coast, including the under construction Western Sydney Airport, and its hub in Istanbul.

The increased flights could put downward pressure on airfares.

A coveted fifth freedom flight, referring to an international service that does not take off or land within the carrier’s home country, was also approved.

It means Australians will be able to fly on the airline to destinations such as Singapore without needing to book a second leg to Istanbul.

Landing rights agreements are negotiated between governments rather than government to airline.Agreements for rights of flights to Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, France, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Vietnam were also signed off on.

A spokeswoman for Ms King said the agreements were routine decisions of government.

“Turkiye is a new market for Australia … Australia and Turkiye share strong cultural, historical and people-to-people links, and aviation plays an important role in supporting these connections,” she said.

The government expects passenger traffic to return to Covid-19 levels over the next year as airlines announce new flights and return capacity and in turn encourage more competitive fares to international hotspots.

“As the minister has said before, capacity is returning and there have been applications such as the ones approved recently. Recovery from Covid will take time and she is taking into account what the sector will look like in the future when making these decisions,” the spokeswoman said.

Transport Minister Catherine King quietly approved the agreement. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Ms King’s decision comes after she faced intense criticism for blocking a similar bid from Qatar Airways earlier this year.

The government has maintained the decision was made in the “national interest” but Ms King has cited the invasive strip searches of five Australian women in Doha in 2020 provided “context” for her decision.

Qantas had opposed the Qatar Airways application, claiming it would distort the market. The airline did not oppose the Turkish Airlines bid.

A senate inquiry was launched amid accusations the government had rejected the application to protect Qantas’ bottom line.

It recommended Ms King’s decision be reviewed.

Coalition transport spokeswoman Bridget McKenzie described the Turkish Airlines decision as a “policy U-turn”.

“For months the public was lectured by the Prime Minister, and a conga line of ministers, that the aviation market did not need additional capacity, now the minister has given other airlines additional international flight permits without explanation,” she said.

“The inconsistent decision-making process shows the Albanese government makes aviation policy decisions without transparency or any plausible explanation to the long-suffering Australian travelling public.”

Ms King’s office has been contacted for comment.