Turkish Airlines Finalizes 220 Airbus Aircraft Deal

Five weeks to the day after agreeing in principle on the deal, Turkish Airlines and Airbus confirmed a firm order for 220 aircraft plus 125 purchase rights today. The bumper order fits the airline’s 2033 strategy to double Turkish Airlines in size to over 800 aircraft. On November 10, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury and Chief Commercial Officer Christian Scherer inked the deal with Turkish Airlines CEO Ahmet Bolat on the banks of the Bosporus River in Istanbul. The Board of Directors has now approved the agreement, so the signatures were put to paper in Istanbul on Friday. Turkish will buy 150 A321neo’s and has placed purchase rights for another 100. The airline hasn’t identified the engine provider for the aircraft. It currently has 41 A321neo’s with Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbofans, of which 12 are out of service for maintenance and engine repairs. During previous earnings calls, the airline said that the durability and production quality issue with the GTF was one of the factors why completing the order was taking longer. The order also includes 70 A350s of all three available versions. On top of the 10 -900s ordered in September, Turkish Airlines will buy another 50 of them and has purchase rights for 20 aircraft. Turkish has 16 A350-900s in service, including some that were originally ordered by Russia’s Aeroflot but were undeliverable after the sanctions on Russia. There are 15 firm orders for the A350-1000, which will be a new model in the fleet. That also applies to the A350F freighter for Turkish Cargo, of which a firm order for five plus five purchase rights is placed. All A350s are powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB. The engine maker says the A350s will be delivered between 2025 and 2033. Bold vision According to Airbus, the latest orders bring Turkish Airline's order book to 504 aircraft, of which 212 have been delivered. With a word that he is using more often in press statements, Christian Schere refers to the order as a demonstration of the “bold vision” of Turkish Airlines. “The A350-900, A350-1000, A350F, and A321 will all be flagship aircraft in their respective category and efficiency drivers to shape the airline’s future and sustainable expansion, with more range, less fuel, noise and emissions and best cabin in class." Turkish CEO Ahmet Bolat called this a “landmark order” that is more than just an expansion. “It’s a testament to our dedication to innovation, operational excellence, and a sustainable future. (...) This investment is a crucial milestone in the further evolution of Türkiye’s aviation industry. By modernizing 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.” CEO Ahmet Bolat of Turkish Airlines. (Richard Schuurman) Bolat points out the enhanced operational capabilities and improved green credentials. Airbus notes the order consists of "flagship aircraft in their respective category." The statements from both sides signal Turkish ambition to turn Istanbul into an alternative to the ME3 hubs. Unlike those hubs, Turkish has a better-developed feed and distribution network. Moreover, Turkey offers local traffic volume. The order focuses on longer-range capabilities, a signal not only to the ME3. Turkey has the feed and distribution across the EU behind Istanbul. This shift in fleet capability will ripple through the big EU airlines. Game theory ensures the story is not over. Welcome news for the UK Both the Airbus order and the one for Rolls-Royce were welcomed by the UK government, as they secure jobs at Airbus UK which produces the wings, and for engine maker Rolls-Royce “This landmark deal between Turkish Airlines, Airbus and Rolls-Royce demonstrates that the sky’s the limit for the UK’s thriving aerospace sector," said Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch said: "This is a big win for the UK’s world-leading aerospace sector and one that will help secure high-skilled jobs across the country and drive economic growth. Rolls-Royce CEO Tufan Erginbilgic said: “Today’s announcement marks an exciting and truly historic day for Rolls-Royce. It is proof that the actions we are taking to transform Rolls-Royce into a high-performing and competitive company underpinned by profitable growth are working. The Trent XWB is the perfect engine platform to support Turkish Airlines as it continues to grow. This order will make Turkish Airlines the largest Trent XWB operator in the world, and I would like to thank them for putting their trust in Rolls-Royce.

US Flight Planner - US DoT On-Time Data	Airbus vs Boeing - Official OEM Data
US Airline Schedule Performance - US DoT Data	Daily OEM Production & Deliveries -

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Related News

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Related News

Data Confirms Wall Street’s Bullish Re-Rating

Earthquake Derails Venezuela’s Post-Maduro Aviation Recovery

US Airport Taxi Times and other metrics