Sydneysiders have a new route to Europe from today, with the first Turkish Airlines flight touching down at Sydney Airport this afternoon.
The airline will carry thousands of passengers from Sydney to Istanbul across four flights a week.
The Turkish Airlines flights will also create 68,620 inbound seats to Sydney, which is expected to generate $53 million for the visitor economy.
The Airline’s presence at Sydney Airport will also create 290 jobs.
Premier Chris Minns welcomed the new airline.
“This flight route will open an exciting new destination for Aussies who want to book overseas trips, and for visitors who want to see what our incredible state has to offer,” he said.
“Sydney was voted the world’s top destination for a reason and we are backing our airports to get more people visiting the state, spending money and creating jobs across NSW.”
Sydney Airport chief executive Scott Charlton said Turkish Airlines coming to the airport “highlights the vital role Sydney plays as a global aviation gateway”.
“We’re also delighted they have chosen Sydney to host their inaugural non-stop services in the years ahead,” he said,
The first flight is slated to hit the tarmac at 4pm today.