Turkish Airlines has emerged as a global aviation powerhouse. The Istanbul-based carrier links its global network through a powerful hub at Istanbul Airport, which is among the busiest in Europe. Turkish has also continued to expand its presence in the United States, and added markets like Denver International Airport last year as another spoke in its robust network. The airline is also looking at further expansion in America, including to key markets like Minneapolis, Philadelphia, and Charlotte.
However, an expanding route network is not the only way Turkish Airlines remains connected to the United States. The carrier is a huge customer of American aircraft manufacturer Boeing ,which supplies a large portion of its short-haul and long-haul fleet. From Boeing, Turkish operates several aircraft/aircraft variants:
- Boeing 737-800 -900ER, MAX 8, MAX 9
- Boeing 777-300ER
- Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
Turkish also receives a lot of aircraft from Boeing’s rival Airbus , but both companies combined account for the entirety of Turkish’s fleet. According to planespotters.net, the airline currently has an impressive fleet of 375 aircraft. Of these, 147 are built by Boeing. Despite an already massive fleet of Boeing jets, Turkish is currently working on another major order from the manufacturer that could take up to six more months to be finalized.
Turkish’s order might take a long time
Turkish is currently working towards a major order for more Boeing jets, but the company has reported it will likely take several more months before it is finalized. The airline has yet to finish settling on contract terms and delivery schedules, two elements of the deal that are critical to sustaining the airline’s growth and modernization efforts.
According to Bloomberg, the deal is contingent on two major factors: Boeing’s delivery slot availability and maintenance costs from General Electric, which supplies the engines for some of the aircraft Turkish intends to order. Turkish has been in talks with Boeing since 2023, when it first teased a massive 600-plane order that would be split between Airbus and Boeing. Despite delays with Boeing, Turkish has already settled on a deal with Airbus, which included orders for 60 Airbus A350-900s (and purchase rights for 20 more), 15 A350-1000s, and 150 A321neos.
Turkish’s Boeing strategy is similar, with the airline reportedly interested in ordering aircraft like the Boeing 737 MAX and 787 Dreamliner. The airline is likely eager to get this deal finalized, as it aspires to double the size of its fleet within the next decade. Boeing, facing well-known delivery delays and quality control issues, is probably eager to ink the deal as well, as it continues to underperform compared to its European rival.
On the airline’s fourth quarter earnings call, Chief Financial Officer of Turkish Airlines Dr. Murat Seker provided more insight into the progress and nature of the airline’s Boeing deal. However, it’s clear there is still work to be done before the aircraft order can be finalized:
The rest of Turkish’s fleet is from Airbus
Turkish has a large fleet of both narrowbody and widebody aircraft. Beyond operating a variety of Boeing jets, the airline also relies heavily on aircraft from Airbus:
- A319
- A320
- A321/A321neo
- A330-200/300
- A350-900
As mentioned, Turkish is also slated to get more next-generation airliners from Airbus through an order placed in 2023. The airline is already among the world’s largest operators of the A350. With this in mind, it’s likely Boeing is eager to make up for lost ground with Airbus. This deal might be another important step in reaffirming its long-term viability in the commercial aircraft market.
Source: simpleflying