Aviation

Turkish airlines eyes nonstop flight towards Australia with A350-1000 OR 777X

For nonstop flights to Australia, Turkish Airlines is debating between using Boeing 777X and Airbus A350-1000XWB aircraft, and it has also made a choice on 30 regional aircraft. A350-900s and 777-300ERs are already flown by the airline. However, for ultra long distance services from Istanbul to Sydney and Melbourne, it might choose a different version like the A350-1000XWB. as per the source, On the sidelines of the IATA annual general meeting in Doha, Turkey Airlines Chairman Ahmed Bolat stated.

Australia is the last continent which Turkish Airlines is not flying to.”

The route is serviced by A340-500s or Chronicles. According to the studies, those aircraft caused a significant loss. The plane is also being evacuated by the carrier, and it will be the appropriate time when we make a decision on those aircraft. Bolat wanted to see how both types developed. They are not required to be a launch customer.

Bolat does not compare Turkish Airlines’ nonstop service to Australia with Qantas’ Project Sunrise, which intends to run direct flights from Australia to London and New York. He explained that “this [Sunrise] is a distinct product with less capacity.” “We need more seats, but we won’t alter our business strategy.”

In May, Qantas announced firm orders for 12 modified A350-1000s, with service planned for 2025 to 2028. 238 seats, including 6 first-class suites, 52 business-class suites, 40 premium economy seats, and 140 in economy, will be available. The planes, which Qantas claims can travel nonstop from Australia to practically anywhere in the world and it will be used on Project Sunrise flights starting in late 2025.

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Turkish Airlines estimates that it will take them roughly 17 hours to travel nonstop from Istanbul to Sydney and Melbourne. Services that are continuous may begin in 2026 or 2027.

Bolat stated that “we need to see the Boeing 777X or Airbus A350-1000 proof of its maturity.”
The Istanbul-based Star Alliance member already has codeshare links to Australia before the ultra-long-range capacity is available. The carrier is in talks with countries like Malaysia or Indonesia for fifth freedom rights and is also searching for partnerships in Australia. “We could share the markets with the home carriers if we had that [fifth freedom],” he remarked. “With the current fleet, we are unable to provide nonstop trips. Because it is more convenient to utilize, we are speaking with our codeshare partners.

Thanks to travelers connecting through Istanbul to its global network, Turkish Airlines already makes a $40 million profit each year in the Australian market.

A220 or Embraer regional aircraft for Turkish airlines.

Separately, Turkish Airlines will make a decision regarding to the tender for 30 A220 or Embraer aircraft within the following two to three months. The manufacturers of the engines for these two types of aircraft as well as the pilots who will fly them are being worked with it as a result it will offers that they were gathered, according to Bolat. “We will decide after our research on regional aircraft is complete. About 30 aircraft will be available in the next two to three years. Turkish Airlines’ fleet had 376 aircraft as of the end of May.

Related Topics:a350 B777x Turkish Airlines

Aviation

Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating

Airbus has announced a new partnership with Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, a Chinese aircraft seating manufacturer, to supply upgraded economy-class seats for the A350 widebody series.

This collaboration, unveiled at the 2024 Airshow China, focuses on developing a newly designed economy seat tailored for the A350‘s New Production Standard (NPS) cabin.

One of the key features of the NPS cabin is the ability to accommodate 17-inch wide economy seats, compared to the previous 16.5-inch wide seats that airlines were limited to in the A350’s earlier configurations.

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This change is made possible by the expanded space in the NPS cabin, which is 35 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the previous version. This extra space is achieved by slightly moving the cockpit wall forward and shifting the rear pressure bulkhead back by one frame.

The wider cabin allows airlines to add up to 30 extra economy seats without compromising comfort. For airlines opting for a 3-4-3 seating layout, the 17-inch wide seats are an excellent choice for a more comfortable passenger experience. However, some airlines, such as Iberia, may choose to retain a 9-abreast layout with wider seats for added comfort.

The NPS cabin also offers enhanced flexibility for airline operators. One major advantage is the ability to easily switch between a 9-abreast and 10-abreast seating configuration without requiring significant downtime for aircraft reconfiguration. Airlines can use the same seat rails, tracks, and IFE interfaces, making the transition smoother and quicker.

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In addition, the design of the floor attachments and air-conditioning systems has been optimized for 10-abreast seating, meaning airlines can upgrade their cabins without needing to make substantial modifications to the aircraft’s structure.

Though it’s still unclear when Jiatai’s economy-class seats will be officially added to the A350’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalogue, the collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the A350’s cabin offerings.

With this partnership, Airbus is providing more seating options for airlines, ensuring that they can meet diverse customer needs while improving overall operational efficiency.