Turkish Airlines is currently in the midst of significant discussions with Airbus. The talks are centered around an ambitious plan to expand its fleet with an order of 355 new aircraft. If this deal goes through, it would be a monumental moment for Turkish Airlines, marking the largest order in its 90-year history.
The plan includes a mix of both wide-body and narrow-body aircraft. Specifically, Turkish Airlines aims to acquire 85 Airbus A350-900s and 15 A350-1000s, the latter being the largest variant in the A350 family. But that’s not all. The order is also set to include five A350Fs, dedicated to enhancing Turkish Airlines’ cargo operations.
Turkish Airlines is also looking to significantly increase its narrow-body fleet capacity. The carrier is eyeing the addition of 250 A321neo jets, a move that would substantially boost its operational capabilities.
This potential order follows Turkish Airlines’ recent fleet expansion activities. In September 2023, the airline announced an order for an additional ten A350-900 aircraft, bringing its total count for this type to 40. This followed an earlier announcement in August 2023, where the airline committed to adding four more A350-900 wide-bodies.
Engaging with Rolls-Royce for Engine Support
As part of this expansion strategy, Turkish Airlines is also in talks with Rolls-Royce. These discussions are focused on securing A350 spare engines and engine maintenance services. This is a crucial step in ensuring that the expanded fleet will be supported with the necessary technical and maintenance backing.
As of now, Turkish Airlines operates a diverse fleet. The total count stands at 339 aircraft, comprising models from both Airbus and Boeing. This includes 14 Airbus A350-900s, a mix of A330 variants, A321s, and A320s. On the Boeing side, the carrier operates 777-300ERs, 777F cargo airliners, and 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. This information is sourced from the Planespotters.com registry.
First love never dies. I fell in love with airplanes and aviation when I was a kid. My dream was to become a pilot, but destiny led me to another path: to be an aviation digital media content creator and a small business owner. My passion for aviation inspires me to bring you quality content through my website and social accounts. Aviation is indeed in my blood and blog!
