Turkish Airlines cleared for more Australia flights
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The news: Turkish Airlines has been granted an extra 14 flights to Australia each week following an update to air rights agreements. The airline was also granted fifth freedom rights, which permit airlines to run services that neither take off nor land in the airline's home country.
The numbers: Turkish airlines will be permitted to offer 21 flight services to Australia instead of seven, before increasing to 28 in the second half of 2024 and 35 in 2025, stopping over in airports in the Middle East or Singapore.
The context: The changes come after Qatar Airways was denied extra flights to Australia in a federal government decision that became subject to a Senate probe. Qantas, the only known complainant against Qatar's service expansion and a partner of rival Middle East airline Emirates, did not object to Turkish Airlines' application. Australia's bilateral air services agreement with the United Arab Emirates permits Emirates and Etihad to operate up to 168 weekly services to Australia but they currently only run 70, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. The greater number of services could put downward pressure on airfares to and from Europe.
The sources: Federal Department of Transport Release, SMH
