Turkish Airlines is adjusting its Istanbul-Sydney routing from 26 October 2026, switching the intermediate stop from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore Changi Airport. The change brings a new lie-flat business class option to the Sydney-Singapore sector and, for the first time, allows passengers to book the Sydney-Singapore segment as a standalone journey independently of the Istanbul connection.
What Is Changing
From 26 October, Turkish Airlines will operate five weekly flights between Singapore Changi (SIN) and Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD) as part of its long-haul Istanbul service. Previously, the airline routed through Kuala Lumpur International Airport on this sector. The switch to Singapore improves connections for passengers transferring to Southeast Asian destinations and brings Turkish Airlines into Changi’s broader transit network for the first time on this route.
The Sydney-Singapore sector will be operated using wide-body equipment with lie-flat seats available in business class, a direct upgrade from the configuration previously used on the Kuala Lumpur segment.
Booking the Sydney-Singapore Leg Independently
One notable change for travellers in Australia and Southeast Asia is the ability to book the Sydney-Singapore sector without continuing to Istanbul. Turkish Airlines holds a fifth-freedom operating right on this route, meaning it can sell the sector as a point-to-point ticket between two non-Turkish cities. This opens a new option for travellers between Sydney and Singapore who want lie-flat business class seating at fares that may be competitive with Qantas, Singapore Airlines, and other carriers on the same route.
We recommend checking Turkish Airlines directly alongside comparison tools: fares for fifth-freedom segments are not always indexed consistently on metasearch platforms.
The Longer-Term Picture: Non-Stop Istanbul to Sydney
Turkish Airlines has indicated it intends to launch a non-stop Istanbul-Sydney service using Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft, targeting late 2027 at the earliest. At approximately 17,500 kilometres, the route would rank among the longest commercial flights in the world. The current Singapore stopover is a commercial bridgehead ahead of that direct service.
What This Means for Travellers Visiting Turkey
For visitors flying to Istanbul from Australia, the Singapore stopover adds roughly two to three hours of total travel time compared to a direct routing. However, the improved transit experience at Changi, combined with the lie-flat option on the Sydney-Singapore leg, makes the journey more comfortable than the previous Kuala Lumpur connection on overnight sectors.
Istanbul’s peak value season runs from November through March, when hotel prices across Sultanahmet and Beyoglu drop significantly and queues at Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia are at their shortest. The new route timing — launching just as Istanbul’s shoulder season begins — lines up well for Australian travellers planning a winter escape.
Turkish Airlines’ full winter 2026-27 schedule is effective from 26 October 2026.