Turkish Airlines joined the Kangaroo Route with its inaugural flight to Sydney last week, marking a milestone that has taken 40 years to achieve. The airline offers the most connections from Europe to Australia through its hub in Istanbul. Passengers can now enjoy a wide range of options for semi-direct flights to Melbourne and Sydney, all on its state-of-the-art A350-900 aircraft.

Business Traveler was invited to join the inaugural flight, which was operated by a 777 featuring an older business class product.

The airline’s CEO has already hinted at acquiring a sub-fleet of A350-1000 aircraft, potentially removing the need to refuel in Kuala Lumpur. This would shave roughly an hour off the journey from Istanbul, which is currently required for the route.

Check-In

Starting the one-day journey to the other side of the world, I began my trip in Terminal 2, home to Star Alliance carriers operating from London Heathrow Airport.

With the inaugural Sydney flight departing from Istanbul at 13:15, there wasn’t enough time to connect with an early morning departure. Instead, I took a flight arriving the night before, allowing plenty of time to connect to Sydney. This schedule has already been improved, with the later 15:15 flight from Istanbul now enabling passengers to take the first flight of the day from Heathrow, reducing the overall journey time to just under 25 hours.

Heathrow offers a dedicated check-in area for business class passengers, but the larger aircraft used on some Turkish Airlines departures means queues can occasionally build. Fortunately, the line moved swiftly, and we were through the fast track and headed to the lounge in good time.

Lounge

Turkish Airlines does not have its dedicated lounges at Heathrow, Kuala Lumpur, or Sydney. Instead, it uses other Star Alliance lounges, such as the smaller Singapore Airlines lounge at Heathrow, which I opted for. It features excellent hot food options and a tended bar. 

Photo: Turkish Airlines Business Class Lounge, Istanbul Airport. Courtesy of Turkish Airlines.

During my layover in Istanbul, I spent several hours exploring the expansive lounge, which boasts a variety of food stations, a museum, sleep rooms, and showers for passengers with layovers of five to nine hours. Although the lounge can get busy due to the high volume of passengers at Istanbul Airport, finding a seat is well worth it. Passengers can also enjoy complimentary shoulder massages provided by trained therapists circulating throughout the lounge. 

Boarding

Boarding at both Heathrow and Istanbul was orderly, with business class passengers invited to board first. Turkish Airlines boards business class passengers through the forward doors while other passengers board through the second doors.

Photo: Courtesy of Jonny Clark

While the flight from Heathrow to Istanbul was uneventful, the inaugural Istanbul-Sydney leg was full of excitement, with a VIP delegation onboard, including the airline’s CEO. 

Flight

The inaugural flight to Sydney departed later than scheduled, primarily due to the festivities, interviews, and preparations typical of such events. Subsequent flights, however, have been more punctual.

Photo: Courtesy of Denver International Airport

Although the inaugural flight was operated on a 777 with a 2-3-2 business class seating configuration, the route now features the airline’s new Airbus A350-900 aircraft. These offer all-aisle-access seats in a 1-2-1 layout that convert into fully flat beds. The design ensures decent privacy, though it lacks enclosed doors.

Photo: Courtesy of Jonny Clark

Despite the older seating on the 777, the soft product impressed. From the new Lanvin amenity kits to the plush mattress toppers, large duvets, pillows, and Molton Brown toiletries in the lavatories, the experience was comfortable and indulgent.

Photo: Courtesy of Jonny Clark

The in-flight entertainment (IFE) system offers an extensive library of movies and TV shows, enough to keep passengers entertained on multiple return journeys to Sydney. With state-of-the-art Denon headphones, the audio quality was excellent. Additionally, business class passengers are offered 1GB of complimentary Wi-Fi on each leg of the journey.

Photo: Courtesy of Jonny Clark

The onboard catering, provided by Do&Co and executed by onboard chefs, was a standout feature. Restaurant-quality meals, such as teriyaki salmon and braised lamb shanks, were complemented by mid-flight snacks, including popcorn and chocolates.

Photo: Courtesy of Jonny Clark

Even during the refueling stop in Kuala Lumpur, passengers could grab an early morning bite. Over the 20-hour journey from Istanbul to Sydney, at least four meals were served, ensuring no one went hungry.

Photo: Courtesy of Jonny Clark

Thanks to the comfort onboard and the convenient flight timings, the journey passed quickly. The afternoon arrival in Sydney further helped mitigate jet lag, as an early dinner followed by a good night’s sleep made adjusting to the time zone seamless.

Arrivals

Turkish Airlines arrives at Terminal 1 in Sydney. The new schedule ensures an arrival time before other major Middle Eastern carriers, helping passengers avoid the longer immigration queues that can build later in the day.

Verdict

Despite the older 777 product on the inaugural flight, Turkish Airlines delivered an excellent overall experience, combining attentive crew, comfortable seating, luxurious amenities, and outstanding catering. The connecting facilities at Istanbul Airport are also impressive, even if the lounge can become crowded at peak times.

Photo: Turkish Airlines, Airbus A350-900. Courtesy of TJ Bearfly.

If Turkish Airlines can transition to non-stop flights, it will be a game-changer for travel between Europe and Australia. For now, the airline remains one of the best options for circumnavigating the globe, especially for passengers traveling from secondary European destinations. 

Fact Box

  • Flight duration: Outward: 24 hours 55 minutes; Return: approximately 28 hours
  • Price: start from £5,530 from London
  • Configuration: 2-3-2 (B777-300ER), now flying with the A350-900 in a 1-2-1 configuration.
  • Bed length: 76 inches; Width: 20 inches
  • Website: turkishairlines.com

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