Air TransportTurkish Airlines nears $20 billion deal for 150 Boeing 737 Max jets
Turkish Airlines is nearing an agreement with Boeing and CFM International for the purchase of up to 150 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, with the deal expected to be finalized in the coming weeks.
The agreement depends partly on ongoing talks with CFM regarding the supply of Leap-1 engines, which power the 737 MAX.
The carrier has already concluded a separate agreement with Boeing for up to 75 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, announced in September. That widebody order includes 35 787-9s and 15 787-10s, with additional options that could bring the total to 75 aircraft.
Turkish Airlines chairman Ahmet Bolat confirmed that the 737 MAX negotiations are progressing but emphasized that resolving the engine supply issue with CFM remains critical. “If there is no progress with our engine negotiations, we may consider alternatives,” Bolat said to Reuters.
As part of the talks, discussions are also underway about establishing an engine maintenance facility in Turkey, which would serve both Turkish Airlines’ growing fleet and other regional operators. The ongoing global shortage of aircraft engines continues to impact delivery schedules industry-wide.
Turkish Airlines currently operates around 80 Boeing 737s, including 25 from the MAX series, alongside 153 Airbus A320 family aircraft—59 of which are A321neos.
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