Turkish Airlines Reroute Long Haul Service via Singapore

Major European airline, Turkish Airlines, has made the decision to reroute the long haul Istanbul flight from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore. This means Business Class passengers will now enjoy flying with Turkish Airlines the entire way to Europe through the preferable port in Singapore. Travellers already have a choice between Qantas, Singapore Airlines and British Airways on this popular route, but Turkish Airlines is a welcomed addition to this popular gateway city.

Turkish Airlines is a Star Alliance member airline, serving over 300 destinations in 100+ countries. Operating from the new Istanbul airport, launched in 2019, this modern and vast hub features the flagship Turkish Airlines Business Class lounge. Turkish Airlines already flies from Melbourne via Singapore, with an array of additional routes offered through key Asian gateway cities from other Australian ports.

The New Turkish Airlines Route

Confirmed by Turkish Airlines, the route will begin October 26 and continue to run 5 days a week on their A350 product. It features 30 Business Class seats that convert into fully flat beds. As part of the change, these flights are being renumbered from TK174/TK175 to TK22/TK23. TK23 will depart Sydney at 9:35pm, reaching Singapore at 2:50am; TK22 leaves Singapore at 8:30am and arrives in Sydney at 7:25pm. Turkish Airlines has also secured the 5th Freedom Traffic Rights from Sydney-Singapore to sell return tickets in isolation.

So, what are 5th Freedom routes? This means that the airline has the freedom to operate international flights between the two foreign countries, on a journey that originates and/or ends in Turkey. Other examples of this would be the Singapore Airlines Frankfurt to New York service or the Qantas Singapore to London route.

Turkish Airlines uses Changi Terminal 1 for its Singapore flights. While the use of Terminal 1 means that Turkish Airlines passengers will access the more basic 3rd party Marhaba lounge, the transit times are very swift for those flying through Singapore the same day. However, if you’re doing only the Singapore-Sydney TK22 flight, you’d be better off heading to one of the flagship T3 lounges of fellow Star Alliance member Singapore Airlines. Choose the KrisFlyer Gold Lounge if you hold frequent flyer status, or the SilverKris Lounge if you’re travelling in Business Class.

Turkish Airlines Business Class

Turkish Airlines offer two types of Business Class seat designs, depending on the aircraft and route. This route will be operated on the more modern A350, which is already available on select routes around the globe. This features 8 rows in a 1-2-1 layout for direct aisle access and is utilising the same seat platform as seen on the regional and medium haul, Singapore Airlines A350 and B787 aircraft. This seat is a more narrow design but with increased privacy, storage and a more modern in-flight entertainment system. Read more about the Turkish Airlines Business Class A350 cabin in our review.

Their 777-300ER aircraft is fitted out with an older 2-3-2 cabin layout which features a long and open, fully flat bed design. Whilst the lack of direct aisle access is a drawback, the open layout is favoured by some compared to those airlines using a 'cubby hole' or footwell for your leg extension which can feel more enclosed.

Throughout your journey you will experience the finest examples of Turkish and world cuisines, served by onboard 'Flying Chefs' on long haul routes. With an award-winning dining service prepared by Turkish Do&Co, menus are consistently renewed and feature dishes made with fresh, high-quality products and served on stylish porcelain tableware. Priority check-in, lounge access (where available) and additional baggage allowance are all included as standard. Free seat allocation is included, except on codeshare flights where this is not possible.

Enquire with our consultants to learn more about the new Turkish Airlines Business Class route.