Turkish challenges Qantas on ultra-long haul: the plan for flights over Australia
Flights to Australia could become cheaper in the coming years thanks in part to Turkish Airlines
Turkish Airlines
Qantas
Australia
Not just a maxi order to Airbus, now Turkish Airlines sets its sights on direct flights to Australia from its Istanbul hub. A move that could change the market for flights from Europe and compete directly with Qantas and its Project Sunrise.
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On the strategy of Turkish ant we have. written extensively here on TFC telling how the Turkish airline has become a true global powerhouse year after year. Just a few days ago, moreover, the carrier inaugurated the new connection to Panama marking Turkish's landing to a strategic connecting hub for the Americas.
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In these hours, however, the Australian government granted Turkish Airlines increased frequencies to several Australian airports for 2024. The Turkish airline had initially requested permission for seven weekly flights to Australia.
Then in Istanbul they decided to ask for as many as 21 flights which include routes to Sydney and Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth (in addition to the new Western Sydney airport opening in 2026). Flights to become 28 per week from mid-2024 and 35 per week from the second half of 2025.
The role of the A350-1000
An ambitious project that aims to change the geography of routes between Europe and Australia with a likely drop in average fares. At the same time, however, Turkish's plans are intertwined with its recent order with Airbus, which involves The arrival of the A350-1000s in the fleet. able to travel the entire flight without intermediate stops.
In fact, the airline will expand its fleet with an order for 220 aircraft, consisting of 150 Airbus A321s and 70 widebody A350s (50 A350-900s, 15 A350-1000s and five A350F freighters). This order is in addition to the 10 A350-900s ordered in September and four A350-900s booked in July.
At first, therefore, Turkish Will serve Australia via Singapore using Boeing 787-9 aircraft that need to refuel in Asia to continue their journey.
As soon as the A350-1000s arrive in the fleet, however, the company will fly daily non-stop to Melbourne and Sydney, while on Brisbane and Perth there will be dlele evaluations in progress.
Despite the maxi-order to Airbus, however, The Turkish carrier does not rule out yet another order to Boeing which should also include the 777X. Last June, in fact, the president of Turkish Ahmet Bolat had already hinted at the possibility of using A350-1000s and 777Xs to operate non-stop flights to Australia.
The challenge to Qantas
Although Qantas Airways is currently the only airline to operate nonstop flights between Australia and Europe-with routes to London Heathrow, Rome Fiumicino and Paris (from 2024)-the Australian government broke this monopoly with the green light to Turkish.
Qantas flies to Europe using Boeing 787-9s; in addition to fifth-freedom operations between Sydney and London Heathrow via the airport's Singapore Changi aboard A380s, while British Airways flies the same route using 777-300ERs.
Australia's own carrier has been working for years now on the famous Project Sunrise which promises to become the world's longest flight ever. The Australian airline's goal is to fly, nonstop, from Sydney to London and New York. Namely. travel more than 10 thousand miles safely and with a plane full of passengers.
Startup is planned for late 2025, with a fleet of Specially dedicated Airbus A350s, including in cabin fittings.
Now it will be interesting to see who - between Qantas and Turkish - Will get to the target first to operate direct flights between Europe and Australia with A350-1000s.
Bearing in mind, finally. Turkish in this way opens up to Australian customers the huge network of connections around the world from its hub in Istanbul, which is also an excellence from the point of view of service quality at the airport.
Two planes the same but different
Nevertheless, the two A350-1000s of Qantas and Turkish could be very different from each other. If Qantas wants to outfit the widebody by pushing on a massive presence of premium cabins, Turkish prefers a set-up that is more in keeping with its mass-market style.
In fact, Turkey's ceo Bolat has already stressed that "to make these routes work we will need more seats on board than other airlines and we will not change our business model."
Qantas' choice, on the other hand, will be to. Aim for a few passengers (238) But on 4 flight classes: viz. 6 first-class suites, 52 business class seats, 40 premium economy passengers and 140 economy seats.
Fares and the Star Alliance-oneworld duel.
Meanwhile, however, the most interesting challenge seems to be one that will affect the fare and alliance system. The additional demand for Turkish-signed flights, in fact, Will stimulate competition and should lead airfares on Australia-Europe routes to be more competitive.
As already mentioned, in addition, Istanbul will become even more central in intercontinental travel with numerous opportunities for both those traveling from Europe and Australian passengers. In fact, Turkish manages to combine the world's largest network with a above-average on-board service and very favorable fares (in Economy). This is precisely why Turkish top management does not want to change the gold business model for direct flights to Australia.
Last but not least: the alliance Star Alliance (which includes Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, and probably in the future. Ita Airways) scores an important point for its travelers and services.
Especially in contrast to oneworld - which currently enjoys a privileged position especially on the Europe-Australia axis-which rests on home carrier Qantas and major players such as British, Qatar Airways, and Cathay Pacific.
Major movements in global skies promising more benefits to passengers and (perhaps) lower rates compared to the large increases that characterized the post-Covid era.