Turkish Airlines General Manager Bilal Ekşi: “We Receive Letters, Not Planes, from Boeing!”
Turkish Airlines General Manager Bilal Ekşi stated in an interview with Bloomberg that it could take up to six months to finalise the airline’s long-awaited aircraft order from Boeing Co., due to contract terms and delivery schedules.
Speaking at the Turkish Airlines Holidays launch event in London, Ekşi highlighted Boeing’s slot availability and engine supplier General Electric Co.’s maintenance costs as the main reasons for the delay. He expressed optimism about reaching an agreement but emphasised that Airbus SE remains a viable alternative.
Ongoing Negotiations with Boeing
Turkish Airlines has been in discussions with Boeing since mid-2023. It was reported that Boeing initially proposed a large order of 600 aircraft, though the order is expected to be split between the two manufacturers. While Airbus secured a deal for 230 jets last year, negotiations with Boeing are ongoing due to production issues.
Ekşi confirmed that Turkish Airlines plans to purchase around 300 Boeing aircraft, including 787 Dreamliner and 737 Max models.
Production Delays Impact Fleet Expansion Plans
Turkish Airlines aims to nearly double its fleet by the early 2030s. However, production delays at both Boeing and Airbus are disrupting expansion plans.
Ekşi noted that while Airbus also faces production challenges, Boeing’s delays are more severe. In response to supply chain difficulties, Turkish Airlines has increasingly turned to aircraft leasing to meet rising demand.
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