Turkish planning flights to Sydney from 2014

[Brandon Giacomin]

From australianaviation.com.au

Turkish Airlines is eyeing non-stop services from Istanbul to Sydney starting next year.

The service, which would be among the longest non-stop commercial flights in the world, would make Turkish the only carrier operating directly from Europe to Australia.

The move, revealed by Turkish Airlines CEO Temel Kotil in an interview with Air Transport World, comes as the carrier sets itself up as a global competitor with Gulf-based carriers such as Emirates. Turkish flies to more than 200 destinations from its Istanbul hub.

http://australianaviation.com.au/2013/04/turkish-airlines-to-fly-non-stop-to-sydney/

[Stuart Trevena]

Hi All,

What A/C would have the range to do that?
Looking at Great Circles - It is a 15,000kms trip or about 18 hours @ 450 knots.

Stuart

[Grahame Hutchison]

Great Circle Istanbul to Sydney is 14,962 Km so right up there in distance.

Singapore Airlines were operating Singapore - New York at 15,349 km.

According to Boeing, the Turkish B777-300ER have a range of 14,490 km so Istanbul-Sydney is right on their max range (probably not possible in the return direction). Their Airbus A340-300s can only manage 13,714 km.

Maybe they need some B777-200LRs with a range of 17,395 km.

[Stuart Trevena]

Hi All,

Don't forget the SIA Striped the A340-500 down, and only had J Class for memory, and not that many either.

Stuart

[Rowan McKeever]

If thinking of their current fleet it would have to be the 77W... but there ARE those Air India 77L begging for a good home!

[Jaryd stock]

Hasn't this been on the cards for some time? I remember a rumor going around couple years back they were going to start with 77W's ....

[Thomas Collins]

The aircraft would be so weight restricted I wouldn't think it viable considering how saturated AUS to EUR vv is with capacity...

[Kieran Wells]

Rumor comes and goes... Week in, Week out.. Will only really believe it, when i see a TK aircraft in Sydney....

[Montague S]

rumour had it that they'd be in Sydney in 2013...

[Kent Broadhead]

The articles I saw were on the basis of using 772LRs. But yes, this has been floated for a few years now....

[A McLaughlin]

It can be done east-bound with a 77W, but would be restricted going back. There has been talk about getting 77Ls, and these would fit fairly seamlessly into the 77W support regime.

[Rory Delaney]

Latest news on Turkish flights to Sydney.
http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/general_aviation/read.main/5760925/

In an interview yesterday TK's CEO said TK is planning to fly to Sydney via SIN next year. "This will be for profit not for prestige" he also said.

[Shayne G]

Sounds like Turkish Airlines will use 777-300ER aircraft initially with a start from early 2014.

The strongest hint so far Turkish Airlines will acquire 777-200LR aircraft and operate the route nonstop eventually.

http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/non-stop-flights-to-europe-on-the-horizon-with-turkish-airlines/story-e6frfq80-1226656214545

[Montague S]

bump..seems our friends at the Bosporus are not so keen to enter the Australian market.

http://www.ausbt.com.au/turkish-airlines-pushes-back-on-planned-australian-flights

[Kieran Wells]

Apologies for bringing up... AGAIN, Turkish appear to be thinking about flights to Australia, and saying "northern Summer - in June" 2016 will see their flights heading SYD/MEL bound..
http://www.ausbt.com.au/turkish-airlines-to-launch-istanbul-sydney-flights-in-mid-2016

Time will tell with this one as per previous attempts..