Melbourne Airport is preparing to welcome Turkish Airlines, one of the world’s largest airline networks, to its list of international carriers.

The renowned Türkiye’s national carrier has officially announced its plans to commence flights from Istanbul to Melbourne, Australia, starting this March.

The development marks Turkish Airlines’ first-ever foray into the Australian market.

Initially, Turkish Airlines will operate three weekly flights to Melbourne via Singapore.

However, the airline has ambitious plans to establish direct flights between Istanbul and Melbourne as soon as it acquires new aircraft with the necessary capabilities.

Renowned for its extensive global network spanning Europe and Africa, Turkish Airlines will become the sole European airline serving Melbourne Airport, the primary gateway to Australia’s largest city.

More convenience

Jim Parashos, Chief of Aviation at Melbourne Airport, expressed his enthusiasm for Turkish Airlines’ arrival, highlighting the convenience it would bring to Australian travelers seeking connections to Türkiye and beyond.

“We are thrilled to welcome Turkish Airlines to Melbourne, not only because of its world-renowned hospitality but also because of the new possibilities it enables for travelers,” said Parashos.

He also noted that Melbourne’s diverse Turkish community and its status as a hub for food, sports, and culture made it a natural choice for the airline’s first Australian destination.

The expansion of Turkish Airlines’ services to Melbourne became possible thanks to the recent relaxation of the bilateral air services agreement between the Australian federal government and Türkiye.

Melbourne Airport had already achieved the distinction of becoming the first capital city in Australia to surpass its pre-pandemic international seat capacity last month, underscoring the region’s recovery from the impact of the global health crisis.