After much anticipation, Turkish Airlines has launched its Istanbul-Sydney route, a major milestone connecting Europe and Australasia via one of the world’s largest and most modern transit hubs. While the inaugural service used the older Boeing 777-300ER, the route now operates regularly with the flagship Airbus A350-900 featuring a far superior seat product. With Turkish Airlines’ renowned inflight dining, outstanding lounges, and a route spanning over 20 hours, this was a change to experience Turkish hospitality at its finest.
While the aircraft still can’t make the flight non-stop, a quick refuelling stop in Kuala Lumpur allowed for a quick stretch of the legs mid-flight and adds just over an hour to the overall flight time.
On the Ground
My journey began at London Heathrow, Terminal 2. Turkish Airlines shares the terminal with other Star Alliance carriers, and check-in for Business Class was efficient despite a moderate queue. While the dedicated Business Class counters were a plus, larger wide-body departures from Heathrow can sometimes result in slightly longer wait times. Thankfully, this time fast-track security ensured a smooth passage into the airside area.
Lounge options at Heathrow are varied, and for this trip, I opted for the newly renovated Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge. Although smaller compared to some other premium lounges, it had a decent hot food selection and a well-tended bar.
Upon arrival in Istanbul, I had the chance to fully immerse myself in the Turkish Airlines Business Lounge—arguably one of the finest airport lounges in the world. The sprawling, multi-zoned space is thoughtfully designed with everything from live cooking stations and private sleep pods to a golf simulator and even a small museum.
The centrepiece of the lounge is its open-plan thoroughfare, evoking the bustling ambiance of a Turkish bazaar, complete with culinary zones inspired by local markets.
The airline also offers sleep rooms as an easier alternative to the free hotels for longer layovers. These sleep rooms are available to passengers with international connections between 5 and 9 hours. The showers, clad in Turkish marble, added a luxurious touch that truly elevated the experience. Whether you’re seeking relaxation or entertainment, the lounge delivers. However, Istanbul Airport’s immense size cannot be understated. With gates often requiring substantial walking distances, it’s worth giving yourself extra time to make your connection stress-free and boarding announcements aren’t made in the lounge.
At the gate, the excitement was palpable as the inaugural Istanbul-Sydney flight prepared for departure. Turkish Airlines CEO and other dignitaries were onboard, adding a celebratory atmosphere to the occasion. Sadly, the aircraft for this special journey was the Boeing 777-300ER, featuring the airline’s older Business Class product in a 2-3-2 configuration – chosen in part to make sure the Turkish delegation had enough seats. Now passengers will be flying o the airline’s state-of-the-art A350. While the 777 is not the most modern setup, the experience remained largely enjoyable thanks to Turkish Airlines’ exceptional service and attention to detail.
The Cabin
The Business Class cabin on the 777 offers a total of 49 seats arranged in a 2-3-2 layout, which feels spacious but lacks the privacy of more contemporary 1-2-1 configurations. I was seated in 3E, a middle seat in the centre block, which can feel somewhat exposed. For solo travellers, I’d strongly recommend avoiding the middle seat unless you’re traveling with companions.
The seat itself transforms into a fully flat bed, measuring 76 inches long and 20 inches wide. While the cushioning was firm enough for support, the mattress topper provided an extra layer of comfort, and the large, fluffy pillow was a welcome touch for the long journey ahead.
In comparison to the A350, the 777’s storage options were limited to a small side pocket and the ottoman in front, which was just large enough for a backpack and a few smaller items.
The seat controls were straightforward, though basic compared to the latest offerings on newer aircraft. One standout feature was the built-in massage function, which became a lifesaver during such a long-haul journey.
The entertainment
Turkish has an excellent entertainment system, which is designed to have a wide range of programming, and, they have many films and TV shows in a variety of languages.The screen is huge, and whilst situated quite far in front of the seat, the touch-screen seems a little pointless, however, there’s also a second video-based hand controller by your side as well which can also be used as a route map through the flight.
The airline still also offers Denon headsets which are comfortable and of an exceptional quality. What was missing however, was any reading material. No newspapers, magazines or even airline magazines. I was actually trying to find out information about the airline’s route network, products etc on the IFE but sadly there was nothing to find.
Turkish airlines also offers free 1Gb WiFi for all business class passengers which can surprisingly get used up quite quickly, luckily the amount resets for each flight, meaning a flight from London to Sydney actually affords you 3Gbs in total.
The food and drink
Catering on Turkish Airlines is obviously the key highlight, and the inaugural flight was no exception. From the moment we settled in, the crew delivered a signature welcome drink of refreshing lemon and mint, although champagne was available on request. Shortly after takeoff, the onboard chef introduced the menu, a bespoke design purely for this special occasion.
The multi-course meals began with a drinks service with nuts, an amuse-bouche followed by appetisers served from a trolley—Turkish Airlines has elevated trolley service to an art form.
Starters included fresh salads, smoked salmon, and a hearty soup, which I opted for given the long journey ahead. The bread service was accompanied by a selection of Turkish dips, and while the world’s “oldest bread recipe” was an interesting novelty, it tasted like a standard yeasty roll.
For mains, I couldn’t resist the braised lamb shank, which was perfectly tender and flavourful. The salmon, plated with precision, was another standout dish, retaining its moist, flaky texture. Dessert was a visual spectacle with a trolley of options, including fruit salads, chocolate delice, and Turkish tea presented in gorgeous cast-iron pots. Snacks like popcorn and chocolates were available throughout the flight, ensuring no one went hungry.
The pre-landing meal on the way to Kuala Lumpur started with a chicken Caesar salad, and was followed by a signature meatball and rice dish with a tomato sauce. It was delicious and just the right size.
The 90-minute fuel stop in Kuala Lumpur allowed passengers to disembark briefly. Turkish Airlines uses the Global Lounge, which offers a modest but well-curated selection of Malaysian delicacies, wines, and coffee. It was a nice break to stretch the legs before re-boarding for the second leg to Sydney.
On the second flight, the dining was a little lighter in touch, with just two smaller meals on offer, but still, this is a substantial amount of food for a 20 hour flight. The first service on the second flight consisted of a breakfast, with either omelette or waffles as the main dish, which was accompanied by fresh fruits, yoghurt and pastries as well as cold meats and cheese.
The very last meal was either a burger or a quiche, which was accompanied by a side of cheesecake. And all four of these epic meals were washed down by a huge array of beers, wines, Taittinger champagne and herbal teas, smoothies and health detox juices.
The amenities
Each seat came with slippers, a shoe bag, and a Lanvin amenity kit, which was newly designed for this flight. The kit included essentials such as eye masks, socks, and skincare products from luxury brand. There are four kits in the range, and we were offered both on each leg of the flight which is a nice touch.
We were also treated to the bedding kit which included a mattress topper, additional pillowcase and thick duvet, as well as a day blanket. These were replaced during the stopover. A nice touch was the addition of a turndown service which was available on request on the first flight, and built into the service on the second flight, where all seats were turned down prior to the meal service to maximise sleep.
In conclusion
Turkish Airlines has delivered an exceptional product on its Istanbul-Sydney route, blending world-class service, outstanding dining, and a luxurious transit experience in Istanbul. While the 777’s older Business Class cabin may feel dated, the A350-900 now operating the route offers a far superior experience, making this one of the most comfortable ways to connect Europe and Australia.
With plans to introduce nonstop flights in the future, Turkish Airlines is poised to become a serious contender on the Kangaroo Route. For now, the Istanbul stopover adds a unique cultural touch, making the journey as enjoyable as the destination.
Quick Facts
Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER (Inaugural) / Airbus A350-900 (Regular)
Flight Time: Outbound: 24h 55m | Return: ~28h
Class: Business
Seat Dimensions: 76” x 20” (777) | Slightly wider on A350
Wi-Fi: 1GB free per leg
Lounge: Turkish Airlines Business Lounge, Istanbul
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