On December 15, 2023, Turkish Airlines made an explosive announcement, an order for an astounding 220 aircraft from Airbus, marking a substantial expansion in their fleet. This massive order includes a mix of 50 single-aisle A321 aircraft and a combination of 70 A350 widebody aircraft. The A350s are further broken down into 50 A350-900s, 15 A350-1000s, and 5 A350F freighters. With this new order, Turkish Airlines’ total Airbus order book has now reached an impressive 504 aircraft, out of which 212 have already been delivered.
Rumors and Anticipation
2023 has been a year filled with speculation and rumors about Turkish Airlines’ ambitious growth plans. There were talks circulating about the airline preparing to order up to 600 aircraft. As recent as November 2023, some media outlets even reported an impending 355 aircraft order with Airbus, though that particular deal did not materialize. However, this latest announcement puts all speculation to rest, confirming Turkish Airlines’ aggressive expansion strategy.
Prior to this latest large-scale order, Turkish Airlines had been consistently placing smaller orders throughout the year. This includes the purchase of 10 A350-900s in September and an additional 4 in July. These incremental orders were part of a steady build-up leading to this landmark acquisition.
In addition to the Airbus orders, Turkish Airlines has been actively diversifying its fleet with acquisitions from other sources. In November 2023, the airline revealed that it was leasing 21 aircraft (20 narrow bodies and one widebody of an undisclosed type) from various lessors. Moreover, in October, Turkish Airlines finalized a deal to lease 28 Boeing aircraft from AerCap, including 3 Boeing 787-9s and 25 737 MAX 8s. This approach not only enhances the airline’s capacity but also ensures a diverse range of aircraft to meet different operational needs.
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