Turkish Airlines orders 355 aircraft from Airbus and racks up A321neo
It is not the largest order in history, but it is still a gigantic order. Turkish Airlines is finalizing, in fact, a [...]
Turkish Airlines
Star Alliance
It is not the largest order in history, but it is still a gigantic order. Turkish Airlines is finalizing, in fact, an agreement with Airbus to receive well 355 aircraft.
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A record-breaking order that aims to almost totally renew the fleet of the Turkish giant, an airline that has become a powerhouse over the years of international aviation.
More space for A321
The agreement provides for well 250 A321neo aircraft - i.e., the hottest model of the moment-which allows it to fly medium- to long-haul routes even though it has only one aisle (narrow body). A few days ago Ita Airways itself received its first A321neo.
The rest of the Turkish order includes. 75 A350-900 aircraft and 15 A350-1000 aircraft, as well as five freighter aircraft, the A350 freighters.
The deal is practically closed and could be officially announced in the coming hours during the Dubai Air Show, one of the world's largest aviation events.
Plans for the next 10 years
At the moment Turkish has 339 aircraft in the fleet, just under 200 are Airbus (319-320-321-330 and 350) while 139 are Boeing (737-777-787). Turkish's goal, however, would be to issue orders for about 600 aircraft to reach at least a fleet of 800 aircraft by 2033.
In essence, then, the Turkish airline aims to Doubling the fleet in 10 years to respond to market growth and its own international growth that has led it over the past decade to become the airline that reaches the most destinations in the world.
A growth that has gone hand in hand with the establishment of Istanbul as an international hub For worldwide travel.
For this reason, in addition to the order to Airbus there is also to be expected an agreement with Boeing. With the U.S. manufacturer Turkish could replicate the order of 300 aircraft, focusing on both 737Max and 787s and the much expected 777X.
In fact, according to rumors, Turkish is planning to expand to Oceania as well with the launch of direct connections to Australia. In this case, the airline would consider both the A350-1000 and the 777X.
Last August, the chief financial officer of Turkis, Murat Seker said the decision on the orders would be delayed because of problems with Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines affecting just the A321neo fleet.
In the meantime, however, the airline has already announced an increase of 10 Airbus A350-900s to its already issued order book. These planes will be delivered between 2025 and 2027 and will complement a stream of new A350s.
Already by the end of 2024, however, the carrier wants to exceed the 450 aircraft in fleet between leasing and new deliveries. Now comes the maxi order of 300 aircraft to Airbus that aims to completely redesign the carrier's future.
