Turkish Airlines announced on Friday (September 26) that they will be ordering 75 Boeing B787 aircraft and have finalized negotiations to purchase 150 737-8/10 MAX aircraft, with the deal depending on the outcome of negotiations with the engine manufacturer CFM International.
According to Reuters, Turkish Airlines stated in a declaration to the Istanbul Stock Exchange that they have decided to order 75 B787-9 and B787-10 aircraft from Boeing, with 50 being formal orders and 25 being options.
The delivery of these aircraft is scheduled between 2029 and 2034.
Regarding aircraft engines, spare engines, and engine maintenance services, the company is currently in negotiations with Rolls-Royce and GE Aerospace.
Simultaneously, Turkish Airlines announced that they have completed negotiations to purchase an additional 150 aircraft from Boeing, including 100 formal orders and 50 options for the 737-8/10 MAX models. These orders will depend on the final outcome of negotiations between the company and engine manufacturer CFM International.
The company added, “Through these orders, we plan to achieve a comprehensive fleet renewal to new-generation aircraft by 2035, thereby enhancing operational efficiency to support an annual growth rate of approximately 6%.”
According to the Associated Press, President Trump met with Turkish President Erdogan at the White House on Thursday, suggesting that the U.S. may soon lift the ban on selling F-35 fighter jets to Turkey and believing Erdogan will agree to his request to stop purchasing Russian oil.
During Trump’s first term, the U.S. prohibited its NATO ally Turkey from buying F-35 fighter jets due to Turkey acquiring a Russian air defense system. The concern was that Turkey’s use of the Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile system could potentially gather F-35 performance data, risking the information falling into Russian hands.
On September 25, at the start of his two-hour meeting with Erdogan, President Trump expressed his desire to resolve the matter.
“He needs certain things, we need certain things, and we’ll come to a conclusion. You’ll know the result today,” President Trump said.
President Trump added to Erdogan, “I believe you will succeed in acquiring what you wish to buy.”
Following his meeting with Erdogan, Trump told reporters it was “a very good meeting” but did not disclose further details.
Later, Trump stated that the meeting had made “substantial progress on many issues” and announced that the two countries would release a joint statement.
During the press conference, Trump highlighted concerns about Turkey’s economic relationship with Russia. Since the EU announced a boycott on most Russian seaborne oil in early 2023, Turkey has remained one of the largest buyers of Russian fossil fuels.
Since January 2023, Ankara has purchased over $90 billion worth of Russian oil, coal, and natural gas, making it one of the largest buyers alongside China and India during the same period.
Speaking about Erdogan, Trump said, “The best thing he can do is stop buying oil and gas from Russia.”
President Trump also stated, “I’m not saying Erdogan has agreed to stop buying, but if I ask him to do it, he will agree.”