PERTH— Turkish Airlines (TK) has completed the longest nonstop flight in its history, carrying Italian football club Juventus from Perth Airport (PER) in Australia to Turin (TRN), Italy, in a special charter operation.
The Boeing 777-300ER covered approximately 13,800 kilometers (8,575 miles) during the flight.
The journey lasted 16 hours and 27 minutes, making it a notable ultra-long-haul operation for the Turkish flag carrier. The charter followed Juventus’ preseason tour in Australia, where the club played high-profile matches as part of the Calcio Italiano football festival.
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The special flight departed Perth after Juventus completed its Australian commitments and headed directly toward its home city of Turin.
According to flight-tracking data, the Boeing 777-300ER completed the journey without a scheduled stop, highlighting the aircraft’s ability to support demanding long-distance charter operations.
The flight followed Juventus’ match against Inter Milan in Perth on August 8 and its later fixture against Palermo on August 11. The Australian tour brought several major Italian clubs to Perth, creating a busy preseason schedule before the start of the new European football season.
Turkish Airlines had also positioned the aircraft for the operation before collecting the Juventus squad. Flight TK3700 flew from Istanbul to Perth, covering the journey in approximately 14 hours and 30 minutes.
Boeing 777-300ER Charter Flight Operation
The use of the Boeing 777-300ER for the Juventus charter demonstrates the aircraft’s role in Turkish Airlines’ long-haul operations.
The widebody jet is widely used by the carrier on long-distance routes and can support both high-capacity passenger operations and specialized charter missions.
For Juventus, the nonstop service provided a direct link between Australia and Italy after a demanding international preseason schedule. Avoiding a connecting stop also allowed the team to travel directly back to Turin following its final Australian engagement.
The operation also underlines the growing importance of ultra-long-haul capability as airlines look for ways to connect distant markets with fewer intermediate stops.
Turkish Airlines is preparing to expand this capability further as it develops its next generation of long-range aircraft.
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Turkish Airlines plans to introduce ultra-long-range aircraft from late 2027 as part of its broader network expansion strategy.
The carrier has said these aircraft will allow it to operate nonstop services to destinations in Australia and South America that are difficult to serve efficiently with its existing fleet.
The airline has nearly 420 aircraft on order from Airbus and Boeing, while negotiations continue for an additional 100 Boeing aircraft. Its long-term 2033 strategy also targets a fleet of around 800 aircraft as Turkish Airlines continues expanding its global network, Daily Sabah reported.
The Juventus charter therefore represents more than a one-off sporting operation. It also provides a practical example of the long-distance flying capability Turkish Airlines intends to build on as it expands its international network and prepares for longer nonstop services.
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