Grounded review9/6/2023 ![]() ![]() Ms King did not answer questions about why the Labor government has stopped two airlines from adding capacity into Europe from Australia in as many weeks, at a time when international carriers have been unable to meet demand, and capacity remains at 80 per cent to 90 per cent of pre-COVID-19 levels. The delay comes hot on the heels of a decision by Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development Minister Catherine King to kybosh Qatar Airways’ plans to double flights into Sydney and Melbourne, a move that some sources in the industry said would have reduced the cost of flying to Europe by as much as $1000. While sources close to Qantas indicated the airline did not oppose Turkish Airlines’ expansion, the federal government did not answer questions about why it is not trying to help lower the cost of flying for Australians.Įuropean airfares have remained stubbornly high, although somewhat cheaper than they were at their peak in 2022. Turkish Airlines chairman Ahmet Bolat says the negotiations are continuing. I’m sorry to say that is more profitable than flying to Sydney and Melbourne,” Mr Bolat said, on the basis that the necessary fifth freedoms are out of reach. “In the 42 hours I can fly to Miami twice. This had caused some hesitance on the airline’s part. He said Turkish Airlines also needs “fifth freedoms”, or the right to sell tickets between Melbourne and Singapore, and Sydney and Singapore, as well as the longer Melbourne- and Sydney-to-Istanbul via Singapore fares, for the service to make commercial sense. Turkish Airlines has the right to land four flights a week under an existing bilateral agreement between Australia and Turkey, but Mr Bolat said the airline is trying to expand its air rights to 14 flights a week or daily services to Melbourne and Sydney. ![]() Turkish Airlines currently flies to the most destinations of any airline in the world, and had been expected to name Melbourne as the 130th at the event. “There are some legal issues that we have to solve between the Turkish government and the Australian government, but today in the meeting the mentioned that they are on the issue,” Mr Bolat said. An artist’s impression of the Turkish Airlines Airbus A350-900 in the air.Īt a gala event in Melbourne on Friday, the chairman of Turkish Airlines, Ahmet Bolat, told The Australian Financial Review that the airline had encountered “legal issues” that stopped a formal announcement being made on the night. The airline plans to compete in the ultra-long haul space when it receives new aircraft. The setback appears at odds with the Albanese government’s objective of fostering airline competition, after it knocked back Qatar’s application to send more flights to Australia. One of the world’s biggest airlines, Turkish Airlines, plans of expanding services into Australia are delayed while it looks to win government approval in time for an expected launch of highly sought after capacity to Europe from Melbourne and Sydney. ![]()
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