Turkish Airlines Set to Launch Istanbul-Sydney Nonstop Flight, Joining the Ranks of Longest Routes
Turkish Airlines has unveiled its plans to introduce a nonstop flight between Istanbul and Sydney, solidifying its commitment to expanding its long-haul services.
Originally slated for 2015, the highly anticipated route has now resurfaced as part of the airline’s ambitious strategy for the upcoming decade.
The proposed 17-hour journey would be made possible through the introduction of advanced aircraft, such as the Airbus A350-1000 or Boeing 777X. As Turkish Airlines aims to bolster its fleet size to over 800 planes by 2033, these new aircraft will play a pivotal role in realising their long-haul ambitions.
While Turkish Airlines aims to be the pioneering airline to offer direct flights between Turkey and Australia, other carriers have also recently announced plans for extended long-distance routes. El Al, for instance, intends to commence nonstop flights between Tel Aviv and Melbourne by mid-2024, establishing the first direct connection between Israel and Australia.
Additionally, Qatar Airways has successfully resumed its 17-hour service from Doha to Auckland, which had been temporarily suspended due to the global pandemic.
If granted approval, the Istanbul-Sydney route, along with the Doha-Auckland service, will join the ranks of the world’s longest flights, alongside Singapore Airlines’ existing Singapore-New York and Singapore-Newark routes, solidifying the ever-expanding landscape of ultra-long-haul travel.