225 Boeing Aircraft Ordered

Boeing has formally announced a landmark order for up to 225 aircraft across its 737 MAX and 787 families.

The sizable contract has been in the making for a long time, with reporting dating back to 2024, and is from the leading global carrier, Turkish Airlines.

The company has ordered up to 75 Boeing 787s, firstly, as part of an enhancement to its commitment to this series. The airline will take up 35 of the 787-9 models and 15 of the largest 787-10 models.

Additionally, there’ll be a possible opportunity to acquire 25 further Dreamliners in the future, which will serve as options for the business as it attempts to grow and modernise its operations.

Meanwhile, the airline also said it would purchase up to 150 more of the 737 MAX jet; this deal still needs to be finalised, bringing the total order to 225 aircraft, which includes options and is a massive win for the planemaker.

For Turkish Airlines, this order is considered part two and a continuation of an order that included hundreds of Airbus aircraft, ranging from the A350F to the A350 passenger variant and the popular A321neo series.

When this deal was placed, Turkish Airlines reaffirmed its stance that this was not the finished product for its future fleet and fully intended to order more aircraft; however, this second part was considered to be Boeing’s to lose.

Since discussions have been ongoing between the airline and American planemaker in a bid to finalise a contract, at times with bumps in the road driven by Boeing’s delivery woes, stemming from production constraints.

However, in the end, Boeing and Turkish Airlines were able to come to an agreement that significantly benefits the airline and also boosts the backlog of the planemaker in the widebody and single-aisle sectors.

Boeing: The Second Part Of A Huge Order

For Turkish Airlines, the deal with Boeing is the second part of a larger order, with a formal announcement expected at the end of 2023 for 220 aircraft from Airbus.

As part of its mission to expand its fleet, the airline confirmed the acquisition of 150 A321neo aircraft, an aircraft type for the planemaker that has seen its popularity increase in recent times.

Meanwhile, a commitment to the A350 series was extended, comprising 70 units across three variants. Thanks to this, the airline will acquire 50 A350-900s and 15 A350-1000s, and for its Turkish Cargo division, it will receive 5 A350 Freighters.

The Airbus A350 Freighter is the European plane makers’ most recent addition to the broader A350 series. Generally, it’s what Airbus hopes will substantially aid the company in competing with Boeing and their long-standing stronghold on the freight market.

These purchases for Turkish Airlines are part of a sizable expansion effort with the goal of flying over 800 planes by 2033, and for the company to become one of the largest in the world. For this to happen, more aircraft will need to be purchased. The Airbus and Boeing deal will now support that.