One of the biggest airlines in the world, Turkish Airlines, will soon fly in and out of Sydney in a move expected to put downward pressure on airfares to Europe, the Middle East and Africa ahead of the December holiday season.

Turkish Airlines will launch four weekly flights from Sydney through Kuala Lumpur in December before starting non-stop flights between Istanbul and Sydney sometime in 2026, pending aircraft delivery schedules. The airline already operates A350S from Melbourne through Singapore.

Istanbul is one of the biggest airport hubs in the world and Turkish Airlines services 110 European destinations – more than any other airline globally.

Sydney Airport boss Scott Charlton said the carrier’s entry showed the airport could accommodate more airlines despite slot constraints plaguing domestic routes. About 65 per cent of Sydney Airport’s slots are used, with about 10 per cent free during the morning peak.

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“There’s this persistent narrative that Sydney Airport is full, which clearly isn’t the case,” Charlton said.

“We’ve announced eight new airlines in the past two years, and we’ve got a strong pipeline of international airlines we’re talking to.”

About 2.6 million people passed through Sydney Airport over last year’s December holiday peak – a 500,000 person increase on the pandemic-constrained year prior. According to its latest trading update, about 10 million people passed through its terminals over the past three months – about 95 per cent of its pre-pandemic capacity.

Turkish Airlines placed one of the biggest aircraft orders in the world with Airbus in 2023. It is awaiting 220 deliveries including 150 A321neos and 70 A350s, and has an option for 135 more. It is expected to fly 15 A350-1000s on the Sydney-to-Istanbul route.