Will another airline join the club of the world’s longest routes? Plans on the horizon to launch a new 17-hour flight connection
Turkish Airlines has announced plans to extend its non-stop flight services with a new long-haul route from Istanbul to Sydney, which would keep passengers in the air for a whooping 17 hours.
Turkish Airlines’ plans to launch a non-stop flight from Istanbul to Sydney have resurfaced as part of the carrier’s strategy for the next decade. The airline had originally planned to launch the route in 2015, but it was put on hold until now. According to Executive Traveler, the proposed 17-hour flight would be made possible with the introduction of new aircraft, such as the Airbus A350-1000 or Boeing 777X, as part of the airline’s goal to expand its fleet to over 800 planes by 2033.
While Turkish Airlines aims to be the first carrier to offer a direct flight between Turkey and Australia, other airlines have recently announced plans for long-haul routes. Israeli airline El Al has announced plans for a non-stop flight from Tel Aviv to Melbourne starting in mid-2024, making it the first direct connection between Israel and Australia. Additionally, Qatar Airways recently reinstated its 17-hour service from Doha to Auckland (New Zealand), which had been suspended due to the pandemic.
If approved, the new Istanbul-Sydney route and the Doha-Auckland service will become some of the longest flights in the world, joining Singapore Airlines’ current record-holding routes from Singapore to New York and Newark.
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