In a move that will further shake up air services between Australia,
Singapore and Europe, Turkish Airlines will launch a Melbourne-Istanbul
service via Singapore on 15 March 2024.
The flights will initially run three times per week using Boeing
787-9 jets, before switching to Airbus A350-900s from April. During a
brief stop in Singapore, passengers would need to briefly leave the
plane before reboarding the same aircraft for the onward flight to
Istanbul.
Crucially, the agreement with the Australian government adds
lucrative fifth freedom rights, which grant Turkish Airlines the right
to operate routes between two countries where neither is its home base
of Türkiye, an outcome that is likely to increase competition – and
perhaps lower fares - between Australia and Singapore.
In a measure of its lofty ambitions, Turkish Airlines has indicated
it will purchase more than 200 Airbus aircraft — with the option for
over 100 more — in the coming decade as it seeks to become the world’s
largest carrier.