Turkish Airlines to launch non-stop Australia, South America flights by 2027

Turkish Airlines Chairman Murat Seker announced on Monday that the flag carrier will introduce non-stop ultra-long-haul flights connecting Istanbul with Australia and South America by late 2027, leveraging a 420-aircraft fleet expansion that includes specialized ultra-long-range Airbus jets capable of 17-hour operations. Speaking on the sidelines of the International Air Transport Association’s 82nd Annual General Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Seker stated that the airline’s long-term growth strategy for 2033 remains on track despite intensifying global competition.

“Turkish Airlines has now ordered nearly 420 aircraft with the Airbus order placed in 2023 and the Boeing order placed last September — there’s no significant changes to our growth targets since we have a hub like Istanbul Airport,” he said, adding that the carrier will deploy the ultra-long-range versions of the Airbus A350-1000 to serve Sydney, Melbourne, Buenos Aires, Santiago, and Lima. The diversification strategy also involves scaling up the airline’s in-house digital wallet TKPAY, its door-to-door delivery service Widect, and the Turkish Holidays vacation package platform, while the carrier is exploring a potential strategic partnership with Spain’s Air Europa to expand its Transatlantic presence.

Market dynamics

Seker noted that the flag carrier captured a new segment of global passengers amid recent regional dynamics, as the conflict in the Middle East temporarily disrupted Gulf carriers' operations. “There was an opportunity and we capitalized on it but only time will tell whether this will turn into a real and lasting opportunity in the long run,” he said, adding that he had been in close contact with the CEOs of Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways during the event. Qatar reportedly recovered 85% of its capacity and Etihad is in the same position, while Emirates’ recovery reached 90%, with Gulf carriers having returned to pre-war capacities and reporting steady demand, according to Seker.

Fuel security and outlook

Seker emphasized that despite developments in global energy markets affecting aviation, Türkiye faces no fuel supply risks thanks to its strong network of domestic refineries, while Istanbul's strategic maritime location allows the carrier to import jet fuel by sea from northern markets, Iraq, and North Africa. “Our prices have been more favorable versus Asia, especially during periods when fuel reached up to $2,000 per ton. While we saw at most around $1,600-1,800 — currently they’re in the range of $1,200-1,300,” he said. Seker added that high fuel costs will place significant financial pressure on the airline through the summer, potentially prompting capacity growth to slow to around 2% this year, though a financial rebound is expected by 2027 supported by the carrier's extensive global transit network.