Turkish Airlines has successfully launched its first inaugural flights from Istanbul to Melbourne, marking a significant milestone as the airline's first venture into Australia. The inaugural flight bound for Melbourne took off from Istanbul Airport on March 1, carrying 349 passengers, including Ahmet Bolat, the chairman of Turkish Airlines, accompanied by a group of journalists.
Emphasizing the significance of Australia as an essential market with a population of 26 million and a GDP per capita of $70,000, Bolat highlighted the substantial journeys Australians often undertook to Türkiye, particularly to attend ceremonies honoring fallen soldiers from World War I.
"With the launch of the new route, Australians now have the convenience of a direct 17.5-hour flight to Türkiye via Singapore," noted Bolat. Moreover, he hinted at potential future flights to Sydney, stating, "We are continuing discussions, and depending on aircraft availability, we may initiate flights to Sydney by the end of this year."
Turkish Airlines, boasting an extensive global network, connects 345 destinations across 129 countries spanning five continents. In January, the airline witnessed a 2.7 percent year-on-year increase in total passengers, totaling 6.3 million, with international travelers showing a more substantial rise of 5.4 percent, reaching 4.1 million.
The year 2023 marked a significant milestone for Turkish Airlines, as the total number of passengers surged by 16 percent from the previous year, reaching 83.4 million. International passengers experienced a remarkable increase of over 14 percent, totaling 54 million, while domestic passengers rose by 19 percent to 30.4 million.
Looking ahead, Bolat outlined the ambitious plans for Turkish Airlines, aiming to double its fleet size within the next 10 years, aspiring to be among the top seven carriers globally. Currently operating a fleet of 440 jets, Bolat projected an expansion to 810 aircraft by the year 2033.