ERBIL () — Turkish Airlines announced Wednesday that it plans to purchase 150 aircraft from Boeing, expanding a long-term fleet investment strategy as the carrier seeks to strengthen its global network and increase its capacity over the coming decade.
The agreement comprises a firm order for 100 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and options for an additional 50 jets, with deliveries scheduled between 2033 and 2037, according to the airline.
The announcement came as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, a day after meeting US President Donald Trump alongside other Middle Eastern leaders.
Trump welcomed the deal on his Truth Social platform, describing it as a major development for Boeing and US manufacturing. He said the Turkish and other announced aircraft purchases would generate tens of billions of dollars in sales and support tens of thousands of American jobs.
The latest announcement follows a major Boeing agreement involving Turkish Airlines announced almost exactly a year earlier, when the carrier moved to expand its fleet with another 225 Boeing aircraft following Erdogan’s talks with Trump at the White House.
The two deals form part of Turkish Airlines’ longer-term fleet expansion plans as the carrier seeks to capitalize on growing international passenger demand and Istanbul’s position as a major global aviation hub.
Fleet expansion
Turkish Airlines, based at Istanbul Airport, has continued to expand its fleet and international network in recent years. The airline reported a fleet of 516 aircraft at the end of 2025 and carried 92.6 million passengers that year, according to its corporate figures.
The carrier’s long-term “Vision 2033” strategy calls for its fleet to exceed 800 aircraft, with next-generation aircraft accounting for a growing share of the fleet. Turkish Airlines has previously said the expansion is intended to support continued growth in its international network and operational efficiency.
The Boeing 737 MAX aircraft are designed primarily for short- and medium-haul routes, making them particularly relevant to Turkish Airlines’ extensive network connecting Europe, the Middle East, Africa and other regions through Istanbul.
The airline currently operates more than 200 Boeing aircraft, including 737 MAX and 787 Dreamliner models.
US-Türkiye aviation ties
The purchase also comes against the backdrop of close commercial ties between Boeing and Turkish Airlines. The US aircraft manufacturer has been a longstanding supplier to the Turkish carrier, while Turkish Airlines’ growing fleet has contributed to the expansion of Istanbul as a major international transit hub.
Boeing has previously described Türkiye and its aviation industry as a longstanding partner, while Turkish Airlines has said its Boeing fleet expansion will help increase connectivity and serve demand on routes across the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia and the United States.
The latest agreement therefore represents not only a major fleet investment by Turkish Airlines but also a significant future order for Boeing, with deliveries extending through the middle of the next decade.
