Turkish Airlines will launch its Istanbul-Singapore-Melbourne route on March 15.
Flights will operate three times a week with departures from Istanbul on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and from Melbourne on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Over the next few years, they plan to introduce aircraft capable of operating non-stop flights.
This will be the airline’s first foray into Australia, making it the only European airline to serve Melbourne. The expected reach will then extend to 346 cities in 130 countries. Melbourne is home to the largest Turkish community in Australia.
Chairman Ahmet Bolat commented, “Today is an important day for us. We have been able to realize our goal of reaching the Australian continent, which we have been working on for some time, by confirming the launch date. As the airline that flies to the most countries in the world, we have an important global value that sets us apart from our competitors. Maintaining this valuable mission is a very strong motivator that makes us work harder, more devotedly, and with more enthusiasm. With such motivation, we are pleased to add Melbourne as our 346th destination. Australia, with its natural beauty and hospitable people, becomes our 130th country and 6th continent,” he said.
■ Schedule TK168 Istanbul (17:30) to Singapore (08:50+1/10:20+1) to Melbourne (20:40+1) / Mon, Wed, Fri TK169 Melbourne (22:30) to Singapore (03:00+1/04:30+1) to Istanbul (11:15+1) / Tue, Thu, Sat
