Turkish Airlines eyes flights to Auckland

The first Turkish Airlines flights to NZ will run via Singapore, with a possible non-stop service down the track...

By David Flynn, January 20 2025
Turkish Airlines eyes flights to Auckland

Turkish Airlines has confirmed Auckland is on its future flight schedule, in a move intended to complement its current flights to Sydney and Melbourne.

Speaking at the Turkish Airlines Management Summit 2025 in Antalya, as reported by local news outlet Turizm Ekonomi, airline chairman Ahmet Bolat said the first Istanbul-Auckland flights would run via Singapore, following the same pattern as its Istanbul-Melbourne route.

Travellers would disembark the red-tailed jet at Singapore's Changi Airport, with an airport lounge welcoming business class passengers and top-tier frequent flyers – including Star Alliance Gold members such as Air New Zealand Airpoints Gold and Elite cardholders – before rejoining the same plane to continue their journey.

However, non-stop flights between Auckland and Istanbul are also being considered as the airline builds up its fleet of ultra-long range Airbus A350-1000 jets.

The first A350-1000s will launch direct Istanbul-Sydney flights in late 2026, swapping the current stopover at Kuala Lumpur for a 17-hour non-stop marathon, with Melbourne set to follow.

The globe-striding A350-1000s will have a customised layout with a substantially larger business class cabin, although the airline has ruled out the return of its ‘Comfort Class’ premium economy, which was positioned closer to being a ‘business lite’ proposition.

Turkish Airlines’ Auckland flights are likely to feature the Star Alliance member’s new Crystal business class suites, which combine a fully lie-flat bed with sliding privacy doors.

Review: What it’s like to fly Turkish Airlines business class

01 Jun 2017

Total posts 20

Makes sense to via SIN for IST - AKL especially TK able to pick up and drop off passengers in SIN on both directions.  For SIN - AKL route means TK will be competing head on with SQ for the load where both are members of Star Alliance.  Would have been different if it was via KUL where MH is OneWorld then there will be no competition, but KUL may not allow TK to pick and drop passengers in KUL.  IST - AKL direct would be nearly 19 hours similar to SIN - New York. 

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

06 Sep 2012

Total posts 232

If Turkish Airlines flies IST - AKL direct won't this be challenging QF's SYD - LHR's non stop for the crown of the longest non-stop flight? Both flights appear to be marginally close to each other in terms of distance - around 17000 km!


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