Sydneysiders will have a new way to get to Europe by the end of the year, with a new airline flying directly from the city to tourist hotspots for the first time.
Turkish Airlines will fly from Sydney to Istanbul four times a week via Kuala Lumpur from December 5.
The airline already flies out of Melbourne three times a week via Singapore, but it’s the first time it will fly out of Sydney.
The airline will also eventually offer a non-stop direct flight to Istanbul, revolutionising the way Australians travel to Europe.
The airline flies to more countries than any other, covering 130 destinations with connecting flights to 340 cities.
Turkish Airlines is now the second European Airline to fly to Australia, aside from British Airways, after all other major European airlines pulled out years ago.
The addition could bring down ticket prices because of more competition in the market.
Sydney Airport told 9News they have been working on the deal for some time.
“We are proud that Turkish Airlines picked Sydney and NSW for their first non-stop service which is a strong endorsement of everything our city and state has to offer,” Sydney Airport CEO Scott Charlton said.
“In the meantime, passengers will get to experience Turkish Airlines’ award-winning service from Sydney to Istanbul via Kuala Lumpur in December 2024.”
The deal could generate more than $53 million in visitor spending in Sydney, according to Destination NSW.
It’s also estimated to create 290 new jobs.