UPDATE 31 JAN: Turkish Airlines have announced they will bring forward the start of its long-awaited flights to Australia by two weeks. The first of the 16-hour flights will depart Istanbul on Friday 1 March instead of 15 March, touching down for the first time in Melbourne on Saturday 2 March.

**The inaugural Istanbul-Singapore-Melbourne flight on Friday 1 March will now be on the Boeing 777 with the 2-3-2 layout. This will however change to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner with the modern 1-2-1 Business Class from 6 March. Both hold fully flat beds, however there is more privacy and direct aisle access on the newer Boeing 787 Dreamliner. **

Turkish Airlines is all set to launch its long-awaited Turkish Airlines flights to Australia in March, with the inaugural flight departing from Istanbul on 15 March and arriving in Melbourne on 16 March. The Star Alliance member plans to operate three Boeing 787 flights per week between Istanbul and Melbourne, with a stopover in Singapore in both directions. The airline is, however, eyeing non-stop flights in the future, thanks to its acquisition of ultra long-range Airbus A350-1000 jets featuring brand-new Business Class suites.

Flight TK168 is scheduled to take off from Turkish Airlines hub, Istanbul, at 5:30pm every Monday, Wednesday and Friday arriving in Singapore at 8:50am the following day. Subsequently, the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner will continue its journey to Melbourne, touching down at 8:40pm. The return leg, Flight TK169, will depart Melbourne at 10:30pm every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, with a layover in Singapore before reaching Istanbul.

Tickets for these highly-anticipated Turkish Airlines flights are now available for purchase, and Dr Ahmet Bolat, Chairman of Turkish Airlines, expressed his excitement about adding Melbourne as the airline’s 346th destination. This significant expansion positions Melbourne as the 130th country and the 6th continent under the expansive wings of Turkish Airlines, promising to strengthen tourism opportunities between Turkey and Australia.

Looking ahead, Turkish Airlines has ambitious plans to increase the frequency from three to five services per week, with the ultimate goal of achieving daily flights to both Melbourne and Sydney. The recent approval from the Australian government for 21 flights per week, tripling the previous allocation, not only solidifies Turkish Airlines’ presence in Melbourne but also opens doors to potential expansion in other key Australian cities, including Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and the new Western Sydney airport opening in 2026.

Notably, Turkish Airlines will also have the flexibility to sell single legs of its Istanbul-Singapore-Melbourne route, adding more travel options for passengers. This move adds healthy competition to the Melbourne-Singapore route, which is already served by several carriers such as Singapore Airlines and Qantas.

Renowned for its exceptional service, Turkish Airlines’ Business Class will feature Flat Bed seats similar to those found in Singapore Airlines Airbus A350 and Boeing 787-10 ‘regional Business Class’. Furthermore, passengers can look forward to the unveiling of new Business Class suites, codenamed Crystal, expected to be revealed in May, enhancing the premium travel experience on Turkish Airlines.

As Turkish Airlines prepares to establish its presence in Australia, passengers can anticipate exciting developments, including the prospect of non-stop flights in the future. The recent strategic order of over 200 Airbus jets, including 60 A350-900s and 15 A350-1000s, positions Turkish Airlines as a global leader in long-haul travel, connecting passengers seamlessly across continents.

Now is the time to book your trip to Europe, enquire with one of our airfare specialists today regarding flights with Turkish Airlines. Alternatively, view our other latest airfare deals to Europe and beyond.

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