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Türkiye's flag carrier, Turkish Airlines, plans to launch nonstop flights from Istanbul to Sydney and Melbourne toward the end of 2027 after the planned arrival of specially configured A350-1000 aircraft in July that year.
A Turkish Airlines spokesperson said that the carrier remains committed to introducing nonstop services to both cities, with the new aircraft expected to support the expansion.
"As part of our longer-term network planning in Australia, we are also evaluating potential services to other destinations, including Brisbane and Perth," the spokeswoman told The Australian. "Any future expansion will depend on market conditions, passenger demand and aircraft availability."
The airline launched one-stop services to Melbourne and Sydney in 2024 as part of its expansion in the Australian market. Melbourne flights currently operate via Singapore, while Sydney services operate via Kuala Lumpur and will switch to Singapore from Oct. 26.
The airline continues to see solid demand for its Australian services, with an average load factor of about 85%, according to the report. Its passenger numbers also increased by 19% in June compared with a year earlier.
The increase in Turkish Airlines' passenger numbers came as Gulf carriers Emirates and Qatar Airways recorded sharp declines following airspace closures linked to the war on Iran.
The latest figures from Australian authorities showed Emirates' market share fell to 3.5% in June from 6.6% a year earlier, while its inbound passenger load factor dropped to 46.5%.
Qatar Airways, another Gulf-based carrier, also saw its market share decline, falling to 1.9% from 3.9%.
Several airlines benefited from the disruption, including Turkish Airlines, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Scoot and China Southern. All increased their market share in June as travelers sought alternative routes to Europe, the report noted.
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