Turkish Airlines chooses Melbourne for first Australian flights

Turkish Airlines will commence its direct flights from Istanbul to Melbourne, via Singapore, in March 2024, operating three times a week. There are plans for Turkish Airlines to acquire new aircraft with the ability to operate the Istanbul to Melbourne service non-stop in the future.  

The new route will not only bring thousands of visitors to Victoria but it will also increase export capacity and create hundreds of local jobs. A Turkish Airlines daily service would add 109,500 seats to Melbourne each year, contribute more than $132 million annually to the state’s economy and create an estimated 840-plus jobs in the regional aviation and tourism sectors.

The new flights will also boost Victoria’s access to key European, Middle Eastern, Balkan and African markets via its hub in Istanbul – growing its tourism, international education, business and trade markets.

The Turkey, Middle East and Africa region is one of Victoria’s major trading partners, with two-way merchandise trade valued at $5.48 billion in 2022-23. Daily flights by Turkish Airlines would add 3,650 tonnes of airfreight capacity annually.

Turkish Airlines joins a growing list of international airlines the Victorian government has supported to increase flights to Melbourne including LATAM, Cathay Pacific, China Southern, Sichuan Airlines and Air India.

The first flight from Istanbul is due to arrive in Melbourne on Saturday, 16 March 2024.