Turkish Airlines, the carrier based in Istanbul, has signed on March 9 a Letter of Intent (MoU – Memorandum of Understanding) for the purchase of 25 Airbus A350-900 aircraft plus five options and on March 12 an order for 25 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner plus five more in option, thus confirming its confidence in the dynamism and growth of the world market.
Turkish Airlines currently operates a fleet of 167 Airbus aircraft and has a backlog of 92 A321neo. An integral part of Airbus’s supply chain for nearly 20 years, Turkey has participated in all airline programs, including the prestigious A350 XWB.
With this firm order, Turkish Airlines becomes the 71st customer to purchase the Boeing B-787. Together, all these customers have ordered more than 1,300 Dreamliner, the most sold two-aisle aircraft in the history of Boeing.
Turkish Airlines has continued to expand its fleet of Boeing aircraft. Recently, the Turkish airline has expanded its fleet of B-777 with the purchase of three more aircraft in the cargo version. The airline also uses some other services from Boeing Global Services to further optimize its operations and operating systems.
About Turkish Airlines
Headquartered in Istanbul, Turkish Airlines carries over 60 million passengers each year, with direct flights to 301 destinations in 121 countries. The airline made its first domestic flight in 1933 and the first international flight in 1947. Turkish Airlines was founded in 1933 with a fleet of five aircraft carrying a total of 28 passengers. Today its fleet has 328 planes.
Boeing B-787 Dreamliner
The 787 Dreamliner is a brand new family of super-efficient commercial aircraft. Since 2011, more than 640 Dreamliner have entered service, transporting over 226 million people on over 680 unique routes around the world, save for its operators about 22 billion pounds of fuel. Longer than 20 feet (6 meters) of B-787-8, the B-787-9 extends the Dreamliner family in terms of reach and range, flying more passengers and farther away. The aircraft can carry 290 passengers, in a typical two-class configuration, with a range of up to 7,635 nautical miles (14,140 km).
Airbus A350 XWB
The A350 XWB Family is the newest mid-range widebody family for the long haul that will help shape the future of air travel. Equipped with the latest innovations in terms of aerodynamics, it features Rolls-Royce’s fuselage and carbon-fibre wings and low-consumption Trent XWB engines. Together, these technologies bring unparalleled levels of operational efficiency through a 25% reduction in fuel consumption and emissions and significantly reduced maintenance costs. The Airspace cab, in addition to being more spacious and quiet, provides a superior environment, design and services that contribute to creating better levels of comfort and well-being, setting new standards in terms of flight experience for all passengers, in all classes. At the end of February 2018, Airbus had registered a total of 854 firm orders for the A350 XWB from 45 customers worldwide.
Photo credits: Airbus Industries, Boeing Company