Turkish Airlines boosts Sydney-Istanbul flights
The Star Alliance airline seems room for growth as it moves beyond daily flights to Australia.
By David Flynn, November 7 2024
Turkish Airlines’ first flights between Sydney and Istanbul won’t take off until next month, but the flag carrier of Türkiye is already ramping up the schedule in anticipation of the route’s success, with an eye to the peak European summer travel season.
As previously reported, the inaugural Airbus A350 flight takes off from Istanbul on Wednesday 4 December 2024, with the first Sydney-Istanbul leg returning on Thursday 5 December.
And while those flights will initially run four days a week, from 10 June 2025 the Star Alliance member is adding a fifth flight between Sydney and Istanbul, broadening the pathway into Europe and beyond while adding competition to help raise airline standards and bring down airfares.
Here’s how the initial Turkish Airlines Sydney-Istanbul schedule looks:
- TK175 leaves Sydney at 8.40pm every Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, reaching Istanbul at 10.15am the next day
- TK174 departs Istanbul at 3.15pm every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, arriving into Sydney at 6.30pm the following day
So beginning 10 June 2025 you can add Wednesday to the Sydney-Istanbul trek, and Tuesday to Istanbul-Sydney.
Turkish Airlines A350 business class.
Passengers will be strapping themselves in for a 20-hour journey, broken by a quick (under two hours) stopover each way in Kuala Lumpur.
At the time of writing Turkish Airlines is not permitted to sell tickets for the Kuala Lumpur-Sydney or Sydney-Kuala Lumpur legs of this flight.
But that stopover is just a short-term arrangement: non-stop Turkish Airlines flights between Istanbul and Australia are on the way, with a long-range Airbus A350-1000 set to begin direct Sydney-Istanbul flights in late 2026.
Turkish Airlines A350 business class.
Turkish Airlines Chairman Ahmet Bolat said the airline’s expansion to Sydney “not only enhances our global network but also reaffirms our commitment to connecting passengers with new opportunities and experiences… bridging continents and bringing people closer together.”
While the airline can run as many as 35 flights per week to Australia from October 2025, Bolat has previously told Executive Traveller “we are going to stick with Sydney and Melbourne,” adding “other cities (like) Perth and Brisbane are not on our list right now.”
Beyond Istanbul and Türkiye, Turkish Airlines offers connections to more than 100 destinations across Europe alone.
Travellers breaking their journey in Istanbul can also take advantage of a complimentary city tour or a two-night stay in a five-star hotel in they’re booked in business class (or one night in a four-star hotel, if they hold an economy ticket).
Turkish Airlines A350 business class.
Turkish Airlines A350 business class
Turkish Airline’ Airbus A350 flights to Sydney feature 32 flatbed business class seats and 297 economy class recliners – although chairman Bolat has ruled out the return of its ‘Comfort Class’ premium economy, which was positioned closer to a being a ‘business lite’ proposition.
The curved high-walled business class pods have a pleasing degree of privacy, albeit without sliding doors.
Turkish Airlines A350 business class.
It’s actually the same model seat as Singapore Airlines’ medium range ‘regional’ business class seen on its Boeing 787-10s and some Airbus A350s.
Turkish Airlines A350 business class.
Finished in a dark colour scheme with hints of copper, these seats have all the mod cons you’d expect: AC/USB power, a decent degree of personal space, a ‘Do Not Disturb’ button, a handy mirror and a small cabinet for stowing everything from your Kindle or a small tablet to reading glasses, passport, and whatnot.
Turkish Airlines A350 business class.
Each Turkish Airlines business class seat fully reclines to a 1.9m lie-flat bed with an adequately-sized nook for your feet, as long as you prefer to sleep on your back rather than your side.
Turkish Airlines A350 business class.
A highlight of Turkish Airlines’ international business class experience are the meals, especially the ‘Flying Chefs’ program developed in partnership with Austrian catering colossus Do & Co.
Turkish Airlines A350 business class.
This sees trained chefs serving up true restaurant-grade fare above the clouds, with appetisers and desserts served from trolley to add to the sense of theatre; the drinks selection is capped by Taittinger Brut Reserve Champagne and four types of Scotch (up to a 15yo Glenfiddich Single Malt).
The 18” video screen packs a solid roster of movies plus live TV channels from BBC World News, CNN International, CNBC and Sport 24.
Business class passengers currently get 1GB of inflight Internet, with unlimited WiFi for Miles&Smiles Elite and Elite Plus members; however, plans are underway to deliver free unlimited WiFi to all passengers from tip to tail.
Turkish Airlines A350 business class.
Further out, Turkish Airlines’ A350-1000 will arrive with new Crystal Business Class suites sporting high walls and sliding doors for maximum privacy on non-stop flights to Sydney and Melbourne.
Turkish Airlines' A350-1000 Crystal Business Class.
Turkish Airlines’ Qantas status match
As part of its continued push into the Australian market, Turkish Airlines is targeting Qantas’ top-tier frequent flyers with a free status match from Qantas Platinum and Platinum One to Turkish Airlines’ Miles&Smiles Elite tier.
Of course, the Turkish Airlines status match also unlocks Star Alliance Gold status and perks across two dozen airlines including Air Canada, Air New Zealand, ANA, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Swiss, Thai Airways and United Airlines.
You can also get onto the fast track for Star Alliance Gold status with the HSBC Star Alliance credit card.
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QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 1004
TK175 landing time in KL doesn't appeal to me 👎 it's no until direct flights.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 761
Whether the stop-over is in KL or Singapore (on SQ metal), the 1-2 hours is great for stretching the legs and taking a short walk to/from the business lounge (its a long flight to Istanbul). It's unclear whether there's a plane change or re-boarding the same plane.
As a segue to the complimentary stop-overs in Istanbul per se, can highly them (regardless of whether staying in 4-star or 5-star hotel), and the Galata Spice Market (Eminonu), amongst other things. The mosques were really interesting also.
05 Oct 2017
Total posts 527
Obviously, it will be the same aircraft.
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 474
"It's unclear whether there's a plane change or re-boarding the same plane.", it will be the same plane, just like MEL-SIN-IST and all other flights like this, eg SYD-SIN-LHR with Qantas or BA.
20 Sep 2018
Total posts 2
I live in Sydney and I welcome the Turkish Airlines Sydney to Istanbul with much joy having experienced flying business class with them for the first time a few years ago from Hong Kong to Istanbul which was one of the most enjoyable experiences I have ever had in my many years travelling.
From the wonderful flight attendants to some of the very best in flight cuisine I have ever experienced I have always looked forward to the opportunity to fly with them again. With flights now departing from Sydney it will be amongst my preferred choice airline to destinations I travel to from Sydney where available.
Definitely equal in class with Qatar and Singapore Airlines in my opinion.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
29 May 2020
Total posts 35
Interesting... I would of thought BKK would of had more chance of working than KUL
01 Jun 2017
Total posts 17
Emirates just ditched DXB - SIN - MEL route. When Emirates started out, there were numerous stopovers in Asia given Asia is the mid point between Dubai and Australia even though aircrafts could do a direct dash between DXB and Australia. Also the fifth freedom enabled the airline to pick up and drop passengers in the stop over city in both directions which could be a good way to fill the planes up when first started out. The fifth freedom routes seem to have proven to be loss making and operationally cumbersome once direct services are / can be in place. Cathay Pacific also axed HKG - Vancouver - New York a long standing route which has been in place for decades in favour of direct services. One of the strongest fifth freedom flights is DXB - Bangkok - Hong Kong operating on A380 despite fierce competition for BKK and HKG sector.
The timing for MEL - SIN - IST flight also has MEL - SIN sub leg arriving in SIN at 02:40.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 761
True, but that's no big deal.
16 Feb 2017
Total posts 29
It might be a "quick" transit thru KL - but it's about 4am body clock ! Why not fly SQ if you're wanting to fly to Istanbul
06 Jan 2017
Total posts 14
Because TK are a better airline than SQ,, in comfort, seating ,staff and especially food service and quality.
03 May 2013
Total posts 680
Bring it on TK. Fingers crossed this forces the ME 3 and maybe even arrogant QF to bring their fares down.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
31 Aug 2012
Total posts 212
Has the KUL stopover replaced SIN, or is it specific to new SYD flights?
Is it too much to hope for Business awards on *A partners on some of the new flights, I wonder?
Currently not available on MEL/SIN/IST flights.
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 474
KUL is specific to the new SYD flight, so there'll be MEL-SIN-IST and SYD-KUL-IST.
15 Nov 2017
Total posts 11
for those interested in stopping, Istanbul is a fabulous place to spend a few days. A really bubbling city that borders Asia and Europe. Plenty to do and see. The Grand Bazaar is an experience in itself as are the Mosques and heaps of other attractions.
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