Turkish Airlines is making significant strides in expanding its operations in Australia, marking a major development for the airline and aviation in the region. Since March 2024, Turkish Airlines has been offering flights from Melbourne to Istanbul three times a week. In December, the airline will launch a new service from Sydney to Istanbul via Kuala Lumpur. Looking ahead, Turkish Airlines plans to introduce non-stop flights from Istanbul to Sydney by 2026 using its new Airbus A350-1000 jets, a first for Australia.
In a bid to attract frequent flyers, Turkish Airlines is offering an instant status match to Qantas Platinum and Platinum One members. Once accepted, these travelers will enjoy four months of Elite tier membership in Turkish Airlines’ Miles&Smiles loyalty program. This includes perks like airport lounge access for members and their family or one guest, free inflight Wi-Fi, seat selection, increased baggage allowance, a complimentary ‘hold the price’ service, and the ability to request special meals.
Turkish Airlines is also focusing on enhancing its frequent flyer offers to lure Qantas members to its Miles&Smiles program. Additionally, as part of Star Alliance, Turkish Airlines’ Elite members gain Star Alliance Gold status, unlocking privileges across airlines like Singapore Airlines, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, ANA, and United Airlines. These benefits include airport lounge access for a guest, priority check-in and boarding, extra baggage allowance, and expedited security and immigration with Gold Track access.
