JAKARTA - Turkish Airlines (THY) will order 600 new aircraft in June, with plans for deliveries to take place within ten years, company leader Ahmet Bolit said on Thursday.
The order, if confirmed, would be the largest in the history of the industry by one airline, surpassing Air India's record order for 470 Airbus and Boeing aircraft in December, but comments shocked some of the industry's sources and analysts.
Speaking weeks before Turkey hosted a meeting of airline leaders from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Bolat said the order would consist of 400 narrow-body aircraft and 200 wide-body aircraft.
With this additional plan, continued Bolit, later Turkish Airlines will have around 810 aircraft units by 2033.
"During the IATA (meeting) we will announce an order. With one of the big producers, we are close to completing our discussions. We will order (a total of) about 600 planes," Bolat told reporters at the launch of a new in-plane food concept.
It is planned that the IATA annual meeting, which will be attended by around 280 airlines, will be held in Istanbul, Turkey on June 4-6.
Bolat further said THY was close to reaching an agreement with Boeing for part of the order, but gave no further details. Boeing declined to comment.
Turkish Airlines could hand over orders for the rest of the new aircraft "to other manufacturers" at Europe's next air show in June, Bolit added in a clear reference to Airbus, a competitor to Boeing in Europe.
Airbus declined to comment. Meanwhile, the Paris Airshow air show will take place on Sunday 19 June.
Speaking of elections in Turkey on May 14, he said he hoped the company's management would continue to work after the vote, so that Turkish Airlines could implement its 10-year growth plan.
It is known that airlines have ordered large aircraft to secure increasingly running low slots in line with the recovery of travel after the pandemic.
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THY has ambitious plans to attract more traffic to Istanbul's hub, competing with rivals in Europe and the Gulf.
Earlier, Irish Ryanair airline ordered up to 300 jets earlier this week, while India's IndiGo is in talks to buy about 500 jets. Reuters reported in March.
Last month, THY announced a 10-year strategic plan and a growth target that includes a target to handle 170 million passengers by 2033, compared to more than 85 million passengers by 2023.
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