Avalon 25Turkish Airlines has launched its longest flight with the addition of Sydney flights. The flag carrier landed on Sydney soil for the first time on 29 November as it expands to its second destination in Australia, reaching 351 destinations across six continents within its global network.

Flight between Istanbul and Sydney will be operated with the airline’s new, modern fleet of Airbus A350-900 aircraft which is designed for long haul comfort with 32 flatbed seats in business class, and 297 recliners for economy travellers. Set to be operated four times a week via Kuala Lumpur, flights will take 19 hours with its 9,300-mile flight path. The new route will not only bolster the ties between Türkiye and Australia, driving growth in tourism, trade, and cultural exchange, but also provide Australian guests the flag carrier’s robust flight network, ensuring they can explore the world with the comfort and hospitality of Turkish Airlines.

Following the launch of Turkish Airlines’ first flight from Melbourne in March this year, Sydney becomes the second Australian city added to flag carrier’s ever-expanding network. The inaugural flight sets the stage for Turkish Airlines’ future plans to introduce direct, non-stop services from Sydney to Istanbul, revolutionising travel between the two iconic travel destinations.

On the arrival of the first aircraft in Sydney, Turkish Airlines CEO Bilal Ekºi stated: “This momentous occasion marks Turkish Airlines’ longest flight path in history, as we happily add our second Australian city to our flight network. The arrival of our first flight from Istanbul to Sydney represents our ongoing commitment to connect travellers across the globe, providing a seamless gateway between Europe and Australia with the comfort and hospitality of Turkish Airlines. Once we receive our aircraft capable of conducting the journey in a single leap, we look forward to further expanding our offering in the near future with Australia’s first non-stop flights to Istanbul.”

New South Wales Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham said: “Turkish Airlines’ arrival in Sydney is a landmark moment that offers a new high-quality option for local travellers to Europe and a boost in visitor numbers to Sydney. This exciting new route from Istanbul was made possible by a financial incentive from the Minns Government. We are backing our airports to increase capacity and bring more visitors to NSW, creating jobs and economic growth in our tourism destinations right across the state. Bringing more passengers into our airports is part of the Minns Government’s plan to boost jobs and growth in our statewide visitor economy.”

Sydney Airport CEO Scott Charlton commented: “We’re proud to welcome Turkish Airlines as they launch their inaugural flight to Sydney. This new service strengthens Sydney’s already strong international network, offering passengers even more choice and connectivity to Europe and beyond through Turkish Airlines’ extensive hub in Istanbul. Turkish Airlines will bring added competition to the market, and with over 15,000 Turkish-born Australians residing in New South Wales and Türkiye consistently being a top choice for Australian travellers, we are confident this new route will see strong demand.”

Akasa Air adds routes to Abu Dhabi
Akasa Air announced daily direct flights connecting Abu Dhabi with Bengaluru and Ahmedabad starting 1 March 2025. The new routes complement Akasa Air’s daily service between Mumbai and Abu Dhabi inaugurated in July 2024 and strengthens the airline’s presence in United Arab Emirates.

India has emerged as a leading market for tourism to Abu Dhabi owing to its proximity, culture, and larger than life experiential offerings. The strategic expansion is fueled by a favorable response on Akasa’s Mumbai-Abu Dhabi route and flourishing demand for travel to UAE from all corners of the country including two prominent cities – Bengaluru and Ahmedabad.

Praveen Iyer, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer further said, “We are thrilled to ramp up our network in UAE with the addition of daily direct flights connecting Abu Dhabi with two prominent Indian cities – Bengaluru and Ahmedabad. The expansion is in line with our aim of making air travel accessible for a greater number of Indians by enhancing international air connectivity from the length and breadth of the country. Increased connectivity will also enable us to foster the growing momentum of trade, travel, and economic activity between the two countries. We are delighted to note that Akasa is becoming the preferred airline for travellers every day, and remain committed to reliability and affordability as we expand our wings across the globe.”

Air Astana signs codeshare with Etihad
Air Astana signed a codeshare agreement with Etihad Airways, effective from 26 November 2024, marking an important step in strengthening the strategic partnership and expanding travel opportunities for passengers of both airlines. As part of this agreement, Air Astana passengers will have access to Etihad Airways’ flights to Mumbai, Riyadh, Dammam, Bahrain, Cairo, Doha, Kuwait City, and Muscat, unlocking new travel experiences to India, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman. Etihad’s global network will be accessible to Air Astana passengers via seamless connections in Abu Dhabi, utilizing Air Astana’s direct flights from Astana, which were launched in late October, and from Almaty starting from 5th December 2024.

“We are excited to partner with Etihad Airways, offering our passengers enhanced travel options and convenient access to a broader network. This collaboration reflects our commitment to providing passengers with an exceptional and comfortable travel options, whilst maintaining the highest standards of service and safety. We look forward to welcoming passengers on board following this partnership,” said Zhanna Shayakhmetova, Vice President of Marketing & Sales at Air Astana.

Codeshare agreements allow for single bookings, simplified check-in processes, and seamless baggage transfer between airlines. To date, Air Astana has signed codeshare agreements with eight airlines worldwide.

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