Melbourne will join one of the largest airline networks in the world when Turkish Airlines begins flights from Istanbul in March. Türkiye’s national carrier confirmed today it has chosen the Victorian capital to launch its first ever flights to Australia. The first flight from Istanbul is due to arrive in Melbourne on Saturday 16 March.
The service will initially operate three times a week via Singapore, with the airline planning to fly directly between Istanbul and Melbourne upon the purchase of new aircraft with the capability to do so.
Melbourne Airport Chief of Aviation Jim Parashos said Turkish Airlines’ arrival will provide Australians with easy connections into Türkiye and beyond. “Istanbul is the only city to straddle two continents and has always been an important trading post, but it is now also one of the most important transit hubs in the world,” he said. “We are thrilled to welcome Turkish Airlines to Melbourne, not only because of its world-renowned hospitality, but also because of the new possibilities it enables for travellers. It’s no surprise that Turkish Airlines has chosen Melbourne as its first Australian destination, given we are home to the nation’s largest Turkish community and our position as the capital of food, sport and culture. These flights have been made possible thanks to the certainty provided by the relaxation of the federal government’s bilateral air services agreement with Türkiye.”
Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee of Turkish Airlines Prof. Dr. Ahmet Bolat said the airline was looking forward to launching its Australian service. “As the airline flying to more countries than any other, we are excited to add Melbourne to our flight network as the 346th destination,” he said. “Endowed with natural beauty and a welcoming people, Australia becomes the 130th country and 6th continent under our wings. Proudly connecting people, cultures and continents for over 90 years, Turkish Airlines will offer Australians an award-winning service quality and an unparalleled flight network. We are glad to be here and plan to strengthen our presence in this great country by both increasing the frequency of our flights and the number of destinations in the years to come. Bilateral tourism, trade and business opportunities will boom as we bring Turkish and Australian people closer and the bond between our countries gets stronger.”
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