Will TK (Turkish Airlines) ever fly to PER, MEL or elsewhere in Oz?

[Danger]

One Mile at a Time is reporting only a tech stop in SIN so SIN-Aus and vice versa won't be fifth freedom flights.

And an interesting quote from the TK chairman, one that presumably didn't translate well: "At the beginning, it will not be such an excellent service ..."

Turkish Airlines Plans To Fly To Australia (Finally!)

Turkish Airlines finally has plans to fly to Australia, though service will be limited at first. Here's what we can expect.

onemileatatime.com

 

[Must...Fly!]

Maybe if they sort out the visa fees (unlikely I know)

 

[Scarlett]

Maybe if they sort out the visa fees (unlikely I know)

If you mean Indonesian visa fees ($50 per entry), the only thing that will change there is if the Indonesian government assesses a noticeable drop off in Aus tourists to Bali compared to before the pandemic. If there’s no noticeable change then the cash cow that is visa fees will remain. If people choose to go to Fiji or QLD islands instead and numbers are down by say >5% , maybe they’ll reconsider.

But I agree, would love to see TK flying one of their two CGK flights through to AUS. Maybe the timings don’t work; maybe they want the second IST-SIN flight…

 

[AIRwin]

maybe they want the second IST-SIN flight

There already is a second frequency

 

[Scarlett]

There already is a second frequency

True. I missed the word daily in there, but as I now see it’s a tech stop only, the issue is moot.

 

[docjames]

IST-MEL is similar length (within 100mi) of LHR-PER....... that could be a winner for them (?but not sure they currently have the right aircraft for that leg). It's about 200mi more than DXB-AKL.

 

[Must...Fly!]

If you mean Indonesian visa fees ($50 per entry), the only thing that will change there is if the Indonesian government assesses a noticeable drop off in Aus tourists to Bali compared to before the pandemic. If there’s no noticeable change then the cash cow that is visa fees will remain. If people choose to go to Fiji or QLD islands instead and numbers are down by say >5% , maybe they’ll reconsider.

But I agree, would love to see TK flying one of their two CGK flights through to AUS. Maybe the timings don’t work; maybe they want the second IST-SIN flight…

I meant Turkey

 

[Scarlett]

I meant Turkey

Yeah, agree that’s unlikely to go away. Especially whilst we charge whatever hefty fee to Turkish citizens who want to come to AUS.

(Edit: feels like I just navigated 14 million webpages to maybe find out that a tourist visa costs AUD150… not a simple exercise)

 

[Melburnian1]

'The Australian' is running the story online, so it'll be in print tomorrow in mainstream media.

 

[Melburnian1]

'The Australian' is running the story online, so it'll be in print tomorrow in mainstream media.

The journalist at 'The Oz' appeared unaware from earlier specialist publication reports that Melbourne is ahead of Sydney in seeing the first flights. I doubt she's correct, lthough Sydney has more interest for most prospective visitors and the financial sector 'pull' that Melbourne lacks.

It's not good that state governments <redacted> are regularly offering incentives (cash/tax reductions/subsidised landing or other fees, and sometimes deals from airports adding to the mix) - when the evidence is more Australians fly outbound on most airlines that foreign holidaymakers and businessmen/women come to Australia.

Why can't airlines from QFi down, including TK, be made to stand on their own two feet without subsidies just as many other private sector businesses must?

Competition is good but it ought come from airlines internally agreeing to a business case that hopefully delivers the return on invested capital they seek, superior to using aircraft X on another route. Alternatively, inclusion makes their route network more attractive. The latter is a major reason why TK is interested.

Apparently a large number of 'asylum seekers' use TK, more than normal for most other airlines. <redacted>

 

[jase05]

Sounds like it’s happening in December.
Announcement/event at Crown on the horizon.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Sounds like it’s happening in December.
Announcement/event at Crown on the horizon.

17 July 2023. ExecTrav blog (oposition to the owners of AFF)

Turkish Airlines Chairman Ahmet Bolat will fly to Australia this week to join a ‘gala dinner event’ held on Friday evening at Melbourne’s Crown Towers, where he’s expected to reveal the official start date and schedule for Istanbul-Melbourne flights.

 

[justinbrett]

I submitted my status match request last night

Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles Status Match

This thread is for discussion about the ongoing Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles status match offer. The following AFF article contains more information about this status match: Star Alliance Status Match with Turkish Airlines

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[jakeseven7]

Announcement/event at Crown

How appropriate for a Turkish airline .

Congrats to MEL for landing them, literally!

 

[AIRwin]

Turkish Airlines Chairman Ahmet Bolat will fly to Australia this week

Wonder if he's flying in on SQ?

 

[jase05]

How appropriate for a Turkish airline .

Congrats to MEL for landing them, literally!

Has Dan got any money left in the Spring street coffers

 

[Danger]

Has Dan got any money left in the Spring street coffers

Apparently he had a choice: host the Commonwealth Games or Turkish Airlines. (I jest.)

 

[HS-TQE]

Has Dan got any money left in the Spring street coffers

Surprised Annastacia didn't put in a bid via the AAIF coffers!

 

[jakeseven7]

Surprised Annastacia didn't put in a bid via the AAIF coffers!

Couldn't pay them enough to fly here we only get Jetstar and Virgin

 

[RooFlyer]

Fabulous to get another Star Alliance option to Europe. Pity its via SIN initially, but all in good time.