Star Alliance

Germans faced more travel upheaval after train drivers announced Sunday a new 24-hour stoppage, hot on the heels of a strike announcement by Lufthansa cabin crew.

The GDL train drivers' union said the latest strike affecting passenger services would start at 0100 GMT on Tuesday and last until 0100 GMT Wednesday.

Germany was plunged into disarray on Thursday as strikes erupted across multiple fronts, disrupting travel plans for millions and compounding the economic challenges of a nation already mired in recession.

Turkish Airlines has launched scheduled flights to Australia's Melbourne and hopes to start flights to Sydney by the end of the year.

The first plane on route to Melbourne departed from Istanbul Airport on March 1 with 349 passengers, including Ahmet Bolat, chairman of Turkish Airlines, and a group of journalists. 

Sofia Airport has issued warnings of canceled flights to and from Frankfurt and Munich due to a strike by Lufthansa's ground staff, causing significant disruptions to air travel.

Travelers are urged to immediately reach out to the airline and stay updated through the airport's website for information regarding alternative flight options.

Lufthansa, the renowned German airline, has announced the cancellation of all flights from Sofia to Frankfurt and Munich scheduled for Wednesday, citing a ground staff strike as the cause.

A nationwide warning strike by security personnel on February 1 is poised to cause significant disruptions at major airports across Germany. The strike, driven by demands for higher wages and improved working conditions, is expected to impact key travel hubs, including Frankfurt, Hamburg, Bremen, Berlin, Hanover, Leipzig, Dresden, and Erfurt.

A Turkish Airlines (THY) aircraft carrying passengers from Istanbul to the southern province of Antalya has been struck by lightning shortly after takeoff.

After the THY flight for Antalya departed from Istanbul Airport on Jan. 29 at 9:25 a.m., the cabin crew promptly informed the control tower that the aircraft was hit by lightning.

As the new year begins, the tourism industry is gearing up, and the messages for the upcoming summer season are exceptionally encouraging.

Starting in mid-March, Turkish Airlines will launch flights from Istanbul to Melbourne, its first destination in Australia.

Three reciprocal flights will run every week between Istanbul and Melbourne with a stop in Singapore, according to a statement from Türkiye's flag carrier.

Turkish Airlines aims to double the number of aircraft in its fleet in 10 years and to become one of top seven carriers in the world, Ahmet Bolat, the chairman of the board and the executive committee, has said.

The company currently operates a fleet of 440 jets, Bolat said, adding that its fleet will expand to have a total of 810 aircraft by 2033.