Turkish Airlines Still Wants Another 235 Planes: Could It Be Boeing?

As part of

Turkish Airlines

’ plan to expand its fleet by nearly 600 aircraft over the next decade, it has entered into discussions with both Airbus and Boeing to purchase more than 200 planes. This follows an order for 220 aircraft back in December with Airbus, which included both narrow-body and wide-body aircraft.

The revelation, as reported by Reuters, came during an event in Istanbul with both Airbus and Rolls-Royce. The airline’s Chairperson, Ahmet Bolat, said:

“We are negotiating with both Airbus and Boeing for the remaining 235 planes.”

Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

It is also worth noting that the carrier has periodically added aircraft to its order book with manufacturers over the last few years, which combined will mean the carrier’s fleet should grow by 600 planes through 2033.

Will it be Boeing or Airbus?

Bolat noted that the airline has “always followed a balanced policy between Airbus and Boeing” and underlined that it would not rush the decision as it waits for Boeing to resolve the issues it is facing.

These problems are both reputational and technical, with the American aircraft manufacturer struggling in the face of alleged safety issues that recently came to light on its 787 and 777 programs. As reported by Simple Flying, Boeing was recently accused of bullying a whistleblowing engineer who revealed concerns related to the company’s safety culture.

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Boeing’s safety culture is under the microscope.

Adding to this is the Alaska Airlines incident in January, during which the mid-aft door plug blew out after take off. As a result, a rapid decompression occurred, prompting an emergency landing at Portland International Airport.

Despite its current issues, Boeing has clearly not been ruled out of the race for a Turkish Airlines order. The airline explained last October at an investor presentation in New York that it would anticipate a fleet of nearly 800 aircraft by 2033, comprising A320s, A350s, 737s and 777/787s. The order, however, is not expected in the immediate term – which is not surprising given the carrier’s big order back just a few months ago, in December.

Turkish Airlines’ big December order

Turkish Airlines placed a ground-breaking order back in December with Airbus for a mix of A321s and A350s. Specifically, the carrier plans to take on up to 150 more A321neos, 50 A350-900s, 15 A350-1000s and 5 A350F freighters. In total, this order counts 220 aircraft.

At the time, Bolat had said:

“This landmark order is more than an expansion; it’s a testament to our dedication to innovation, operational excellence, and a sustainable future. The addition of these advanced Airbus aircraft to our fleet will not only enhance our operational capabilities but also significantly contribute to our environmental goals.”

Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

“This investment is a crucial milestone in the further evolution of Türkiye’s aviation industry. By modernising our fleet with more efficient and environmentally friendly aircraft, we are reinforcing our leading position in global aviation and contributing to the nation’s prominence as an aviation hub.”

Rapid expansion

Per data from ch-aviation, Turkish Airlines’ current orderbook includes 293 aircraft, comprising a large variety of planes. At the time of writing, this includes:

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How Turkish Airlines Quadrupled Its Market Share In A 20-Year Period

The airline saw a 3x increase between 2020 and 2022.

Clearly, Airbus has the upper hand when looking at the airline’s present orders, while its current fleet does, in fact, demonstrate a significant Boeing presence. It remains unclear whether the carrier will sign with Boeing for its upcoming order; was Bolat’s reminder of the carrier’s “balanced policy” mean it is closer to a Boeing order?

Which aircraft do you think Turkish Airlines is going to order this time round? Let us know in the comments below.