Growing already: Turkish Airlines increases flights on longest route to daily

Despite Turkish Airlines only inaugurating Sydney flights on November 29, 2024, they will be increased to daily in early January 2026. As it is so far away, things could change again. There is no indication when frequencies to Melbourne—which saw Turkish Airlines nine months earlier than Sydney and is served three times weekly—will be increased. A few weeks ago, the carrier's Chairman said that flights to Auckland via Singapore will start before the end of 2025. Turkish Airlines carrier plans to serve Australia and New Zealand non-stop with specially configured Airbus A350-1000s with a higher MTOW. If Istanbul-Auckland becomes a reality, it would become the longest non-stop link in the world. The Star Alliance's Sydney service runs via Kuala Lumpur (Melbourne flights are via Singapore). At 8,082 nautical miles (14,968 km) each way, Istanbul-Kuala Lumpur-Sydney is Turkish Airlines' longest route. While the inaugural Sydney service used the Boeing 777-300ER to accommodate press, dignitaries, etc., the 329-seat Airbus A350 is the usual equipment and is scheduled to continue. The type has 32 business seats and 297 economy seats. Sydney is currently served four weekly. As confirmed by OAG information, frequencies will rise to five weekly from mid-June and six weekly from the end of October. That's when northern carriers, including Turkish Airlines, will switch to winter schedules (Australia will, of course, be heading into summer). Flights will be daily from early January, during the peak of the summer Down Under.<br/>