Turkish Air announces Airbus and Boeing aircraft orders

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Turkish Airlines announced on Friday its plans to purchase 10 new aircraft from Airbus and seven from Boeing, in a fleet-expansion programme that is aimed at turning Turkey’s flagship carrier into a global airline.

These are the first purchases under the airline’s plan that was revealed in October of last year. The overall expansion programme would see the carrier buying as many as 105 planes from the two aircraft makers, at a list value of $6 billion, according to a statement released by the company.

In the A330 Airbus order, three of the 10 jets are with options, the statement noted. The aircraft ordered from Boeing B777-300 ER jets, it added.

Previously, Turkish Airlines said the 105 aircraft additions include 30 planes on option. Deliveries are scheduled from 2010-2012, the statement went on to say, adding: “The new aircraft … will bring Turkish Airlines’ fleet of wide-body planes to 37 this year.”

According to industry sources, commenting at the Paris Air Show, the airline could also be in the market for more than the 105 planes included in its expansion plan.

Turkish Airlines is one of the fastest-growing carriers in Europe. It purchased five bought Boeing 777 wide-bodies in May of this year, that were not part of its main tender, the sources noted.

Thanks to www.reuters.com for the above quotes, for more information on this article please visit their website.

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