ISTANBUL, October 2026 — Turkish Airlines expects to fly its new Crystal business class suite for the first time in November on its latest Airbus A350, Executive Traveller reported on Monday 19 October.

“We hope the seat will be available by before the end of this year, by November,” Turkish Airlines chairman Murat Şeker told Business Traveler. Executive Traveller, which calls that magazine its US-based counterpart, carried the comment.

The launch matters for Australian travellers. According to Executive Traveller, the Crystal business class suite will also feature on the A350-1000. Turkish Airlines plans to use those jets for non-stop flights between Istanbul and Sydney from the end of 2027.

Melbourne will follow in 2028, the publication said. The debut comes about two and a half years after the airline unveiled the product in mid-2024. Back then, it pointed to an early 2025 start.

Inside the Crystal business class cabin

Turkish Airlines first showed the suite at the Farnborough International Airshow in July 2024. At the time, the airline said its subsidiary TCI Aircraft Interiors had developed the seat.

However, Executive Traveller noted strong similarities with the Safran Unity suite, also flown by Japan Airlines and Riyadh Air. It suggested Turkish Airlines may have customised that platform.

Each Crystal business class suite has a forward-facing layout and a sliding privacy door almost as high as the suite walls, Executive Traveller reported. The seat is 23 inches wide. Passengers also get a 22-inch 4K OLED Panasonic Astrova screen, AC and USB-C power and wireless charging.

In line with the airline’s “Flow” brand identity, the cabin swaps the current dark tones for lighter, warmer colours. It also adds marble-style tables and rose-gold finishes. Then chairman Ahmet Bolat said in 2024 that the suite would “add a new chapter for our long-haul luxury travel”.

Non-stop flights to Australia

Turkish Airlines will fit the suite to all newly delivered A350s, Executive Traveller reported. The airline has previously said it will also retrofit the seats across its Boeing 777 fleet.

Executive Traveller said the first A350-1000 should arrive from the middle of 2027. Of the 15 jets, seven will carry 48 business class suites and eight will carry 66.

That “premium-heavy” layout lowers the aircraft’s weight to extend its range. The extra business seats also keep revenue high, the publication explained.

Those non-stop services will skip the current stopovers in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, saving travellers about five hours. Greek City Times reported in March 2024 on the airline’s launch of Istanbul flights to Melbourne and Sydney.

Source: Executive Traveller