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

Aeroflot Buys Used Planes for Spare Parts Amid Sanctions

In the face of ongoing Western sanctions that have severely impacted Russia’s aviation industry, Aeroflot, the country’s largest airline, has devised a strategic plan to bolster its fleet’s spare parts inventory.

The airline is set to acquire five Boeing 737-800BCF freighters from Atran Airlines, a move that will allow it to dismantle the aircraft for critical components. The planes, which will be transferred to Aeroflot’s low-cost subsidiary Pobeda, will not be converted into passenger jets but instead will be stripped for valuable parts to support existing operations.

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Aeroflot’s plan to purchase these Boeing 737-800BCF freighters comes as part of a broader strategy to mitigate the effects of Western sanctions, which have crippled the Russian aviation sector. With the sanctions restricting access to essential aircraft parts and spare components, Aeroflot is exploring alternative ways to maintain and repair its fleet.

Instead of converting the freighters from cargo to passenger planes, a process deemed “unreasonably expensive” under current sanctions, the airline intends to focus on extracting high-value components such as engines, landing gear, avionics, and other essential systems.

The deal will be structured in a way that allows Aeroflot to indirectly purchase the freighters through an insurance settlement with the aircraft’s lessor, AerCap.

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The Russian government’s insurance company will reimburse the aircraft’s value, and the planes will then be leased back to local operators. This method circumvents some of the restrictions imposed by international sanctions while ensuring that the airline gains access to the necessary components to support its fleet.

By dismantling the aircraft for spare parts, Aeroflot aims to secure critical resources for the ongoing maintenance of its existing fleet. Components from the Boeing 737-800BCF freighters, such as engines and avionics, are expected to be reused in other aircraft within Aeroflot’s network, ensuring that the airline can keep its operations running smoothly