Turkish Airlines has finalized an order agreement with Boeing covering up to 150 737 MAX aircraft. According to the statement made by Turkish Airlines, the agreement was signed following negotiations that have been ongoing since 2025.
Within the scope of the agreement, which is announced as the company's largest single-aisle aircraft order to date with Boeing, 100 Boeing 737-8 aircraft have been placed as firm orders. Turkish Airlines also holds options for 50 additional Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.
The agreement, finalized in the presence of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, aims to strengthen Turkish Airlines' short- and medium-haul flight network and support its fleet growth strategy.
The agreement also provides Turkish Airlines with the opportunity to transition to the Boeing 737-10 model, the largest member of the 737 MAX family. It is stated that this will allow the company to plan its fleet capacity more flexibly according to passenger demand and operational needs.
BACKGROUND OF THE DEBATE
The Boeing purchase had previously been the subject of political debate. CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, in his speech at the "The Nation Protects Its Will" rally, claimed that Donald Trump's son, Donald John Trump Jr., had met with Erdoğan at the Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul, and stated, "If you arrange a live broadcast for me with Trump, I promise to buy 300 Boeing planes."
Erdoğan denied this claim, saying, "We have not made aircraft purchases or anything of the sort by asking Özgür Özel to this day, and we will not do so." Erdoğan also stated that any transaction between Turkey and the US would be conducted with Trump himself, not with his son.
US Ambassador to Ankara and Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack had also previously confirmed that the Boeing purchase would take place.
News Source: 12punto
