Turkish Airlines orders an additional 220 Airbus jets

Türkiye’s national carrier, Turkish Airlines, will expand its fleet with an order for 220 Airbus aircraft, made up of 150 Airbus’ A321s and 70 A350 widebody aircraft (50 A350-900s, 15 A350-1000s, and 5 A350F freighters). This follows two orders from the airline for 10 A350-900s in September and four A350-900s in July 2023. This latest order will take Turkish Airlines’ total orderbook for Airbus aircraft to 504, of which 212 are already delivered. The value of the latest and two previous orders is approximately $44 billion at list prices.

“On the new order, Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Bolat stated: “This landmark order is more than an expansion; it’s a testament to our dedication to innovation, operational excellence, and a sustainable future. The addition of these advanced Airbus aircraft to our fleet will not only enhance our operational capabilities but also significantly contribute to our environmental goals. This investment is a crucial milestone in the further evolution of Türkiye’s aviation industry. By modernizing our fleet with more efficient and environmentally friendly aircraft, we are reinforcing our leading position in global aviation and contributing to the nation’s prominence as an aviation hub.”

"This order for the latest generation aircraft is a demonstration of the bold vision by Turkish Airlines. The A350-900, A350-1000, A350F and A321 will all be flagship aircraft in their respective category and efficiency drivers to shape the airline’s future and sustainable expansion, with more range, less fuel, noise and emissions and best cabin in class," says Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of International Christian Scherer. “The opening into the A350-1000 and the A350F highlights the cross-model value of the A350 family and reinforces our long-lasting partnership with Turkish Airlines and Türkiye’s aviation sector. We are proud to accompany Türkiye's connection to the world with our state-of-the-art aircraft."

To date, more than 5,600 A321neos have been ordered by more than 100 customers.

By the end of November 2023, the A350 family had 1,072 orders from 57 customers.

The A350F orderbook stands at 50 orders from nine customers following its launch at the Dubai Airshow two years ago.

The same day as the Turkish Airlines announcement, Airbus revealed Brazilian airline Azul Linhas Aéreas’ firm order for four additional A330-900s from a purchase agreement signed in June 2023, adding to the five A330neos Azul currently operates and the seven now on order.

A day earlier, the German Bundeswehr signed a contract for the purchase of up to 82 multi-role H145M Airbus helicopters (62 firm orders plus 20 options). It’s the largest order ever placed for the H145M and the largest order for its HForce weapon management system developed by Airbus Helicopters. The contract includes seven years of support and services.

Earlier in the week, Airbus announced an order for 100 A321neo aircraft from lessor Avolon, valued at nearly $13 billion at list prices.