Turkish Airlines will fly its first service to Sydney in December 2024, introducing direct flights between Australia and Istanbul.

The highly anticipated service will mark the first non-stop route from Sydney to Istanbul, with flights initially operating four times per week via Kuala Lumpur, beginning on 5 December.

The airline’s service to Sydney will be operated by an Airbus A350-900, offering 329 seats—32 in Business Class and 297 in Economy. By transitioning to a non-stop service, the route will offer a fast and seamless connection to Istanbul, where passengers can access over 340 destinations across 130 countries, thanks to Turkish Airlines’ expansive network.

This new service – Sydney Airport’s eighth new airline in two years – will reinforce the airport’s position as Australia’s primary gateway to Europe.

Sydney Airport CEO Scott Charlton said: “This direct flight represents a significant milestone for travel to Europe, offering passengers seamless access to Turkish Airlines’ Istanbul hub.”

“With more than 15,000 Turkish-born Australians in New South Wales and Türkiye being a popular destination for Australian travellers, we anticipate strong support for this new service.”

Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Bolat announced flights to Melbourne in 2023, the first of which arrived in March this year.

Turkish Airlines announces Melbourne as destination for first Australia flights

“Today marks a significant milestone for Turkish Airlines as we proudly commence our journey into Sydney Airport,” he said.

“This new route not only enhances our global network but also reaffirms our commitment to connecting passengers with new opportunities and experiences.

“Sydney represents a vibrant gateway to the Southern Hemisphere, and we are thrilled to offer our travellers unparalleled access to this dynamic city.

The new route is expected to generate more than $53 million in visitor expenditure in its first year and create over 290 jobs in NSW. The NSW Government has worked closely with Sydney Airport and Turkish Airlines to secure the service, which promises to further boost the state’s visitor economy.

The inaugural Turkish Airlines flight will arrive in Sydney on 5 December 2024 at 6:30pm AEST.