How Turkish airlines' non-stop Sydney to Istanbul flight will change European travel for Australians

Turkish Airlines launches one non-stop service from Sydney to Istanbul in late 2026 on board a long-haul flight AirbusA350-1000and as someone who has just returned from Bologna via. Istanbul and Jakarta on a Turkish Airlines A350 Business Class, this new service could be a game-changer for European travel.

Choosing to travel with Turkish Airlines via. Istanbul non-stop will open the door to more than 340 destinations in 130 countries on one one-stop route.

The airline serves 110 European destinations, which is more than any other airline in the world this is especially useful if you are visiting smaller airports in Europe. This means you don’t have to add an extra flight to your itinerary and can travel to airports such as Bologna and Marseille in just a few hours with two stops.

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Food service from Turkish airlines Sydney to Istanbul — Turkish Airlines A350 | Image: Turkish Airlines

Currently, travelers heading to Europe can travel from Sydney to Paris via a handful of routes, including:

Air China: Stopover in Beijing
Air India: Stopover in Delhi
All Nippon Airways (ANA): Stopover in Tokyo
Cathay Pacific: Stopover in Hong Kong
China Eastern Airlines: Stopover in Shanghai
China Southern Airlines: Stopover in Guangzhou
Emirates: Stopover in Dubai
Etihad Airways: Stopover in Abu Dhabi
Malaysia airlines: Stopover in Kuala Lumpur
Qantas: Stopover in Perth
Qatar Airways: Stopover in Doha
Singapore Airlines: Stopover in Singapore
Thai respiratory system: Stopover in Bangkok
Vietnam airlines: Stopover in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City

While most tourists will travel to a central hub such as London or Paris, those going to smaller regional airports are faced with a three-stop route and a longer journey time. We experienced this on a recent trip to Marseille, where we flew from Sydney to Perth, Perth to Paris and Paris to Marseille. Traveling through Istanbul would have reduced this to a two-stop route, which is preferable.

Scott Charlton, CEO of Sydney Airport, says this new route is a major milestone for travel to Europe: “This announcement of direct flights marks a major milestone for travel to Europe, offering passengers seamless access to hundreds of destinations from the Turkish Airlines hub in Istanbul,”

“We are proud that Turkish Airlines has chosen Sydney and NSW for its first non-stop service, which is a strong endorsement of all that our city and state has to offer. In the meantime, passengers can experience Turkish Airlines’ award-winning service from Sydney to Istanbul via Kuala Lumpur in December 2024.”

Turkish Airlines Sydney to Istanbul rating 3 — Turkish Airlines A350 | Image: Ben McKimm / Man of many

Turkish Airlines Sydney to Istanbul rating 2 — Turkish Airlines A350 | Image: Ben McKimm / Man of many

We’re particularly excited about this route because Turkish Airlines’ A350 Business Class is one of the best we’ve ever traveled on. The flights from Sydney to Istanbul arrive with 32 flatbed Business Class seats and 297 economy class armchairs. Flight times have not been shared, but expect this to be one of the longest flights in the world, around 17 hours non-stop, so keep that in mind when choosing your seat.

The aircraft are equipped with a 1-2-1 configuration direct aisle access, 1.9m lay-flat beds and a host of other useful features such as a fold-out mirror, ‘Do Not Disturb’ button, power socket, USB charging port, small lockable cupboard and a large TV screen with endless entertainment options , including a rear camera. The food also stood out during our flight from Istanbul to Jakarta (Do&Co partner). One of the best meals we ever had on this flight was a sea bass fillet with vegetables and basil pesto.

One big advantage that could elevate it above other options for European travelers from Australia is Turkish Airlines’ free layovers in Istanbul. They give business class passengers one free two-night stay in a five-star hotel (one night in a four-star hotel for economy) or a city tour of Istanbul for all travelers. Not only does this give you a few days off to adjust to the time zone, but it’s also a great way to see a new city for free.

Finally, and important for today’s Qantas Frequent Flyers, is that Turkish Airlines’ status corresponds to Qantas Platinum and Platinum One to Turkish Airlines’ Miles&Smiles Elite level.

Turkish airlines Sydney to Istanbul do not disturb — Turkish Airlines A350 | Image: Turkish Airlines

Until the new non-stop route is launched in late 2026, Turkish Airlines will have a four times a week service from Sydney to Istanbul with a Boeing 777-300ER before the Airbus A350-900 takes over on December 2, 2024. These are the times:

Istanbul-Kuala Lumpur: TK174, 13:15-04:20+1 (10h 5m)
Kuala Lumpur-Sydney: TK174, 05:40-16:30 (7h 50m)
Sydney-Kuala Lumpur: TK175, 20:40-01:55+1 (8h 15m)
Kuala Lumpur-Istanbul: TK175, 03:55-10:15 (11h 20m)

Those who would like to travel non-stop to Istanbul may have to wait until 2026, but it will be well worth the wait. Two-stop trips to European cities from Australia are coming!