Multibillion-pound order for Airbus as Turkish Airlines expands fleet
Aircraft manufacturer, Airbus, has won a multibillion-pound order with Türkiye’s national carrier, Turkish Airlines.
The carrier has confirmed it will expand its fleet with an order for 220 Airbus aircraft, made up of 150 best selling A321s and 70 of the world’s most modern and efficient A350 widebody aircraft, comprising 50 A350-900s, 15 A350-1000s and five A350F freighters.
This follows two orders from the airline for 10 A350-900s in September and four A350-900s in July 2023.
Airbus employs 5,000 staff at its Broughton plant, near Chester, making wings for all its commercial aircraft, and around 3,000 staff at its factory in Filton near Bristol.
This latest order will take Turkish Airlines’ total order book for Airbus aircraft to 504, of which 212 are already delivered.
Prof Dr Ahmet Bolat, Turkish Airlines chairman of the board and the executive committee, said: “This landmark order is more than an expansion – it’s a testament to our dedication to innovation, operational excellence, and a sustainable future.
“The addition of these advanced Airbus aircraft to our fleet will not only enhance our operational capabilities but also significantly contribute to our environmental goals.”
He added: “This investment is a crucial milestone in the further evolution of Türkiye’s aviation industry. By modernising our fleet with more efficient and environmentally-friendly aircraft, we are reinforcing our leading position in global aviation and contributing to the nation’s prominence as an aviation hub.”
Christian Scherer, Airbus chief commercial officer and head of international, said: “This order for the latest generation aircraft is a demonstration of the bold vision by Turkish Airlines.
“The A350-900, A350-1000, A350F and A321 will all be flagship aircraft in their respective category and efficiency drivers to shape the airline’s future and sustainable expansion, with more range, less fuel, noise and emissions and best cabin in class.
“The opening into the A350-1000 and the A350F highlights the cross-model value of the A350 family and reinforces our long lasting partnership with Turkish Airlines and Türkiye’s aviation sector. We are proud to accompany Türkiye’s connection to the world with our state-of-the-art aircraft.”
The A321neo is the largest aircraft in Airbus’s A320neo (new engine option) family, offering unparalleled range and performance. By incorporating new generation engines and Sharklets, the A321neo brings a 50% noise reduction and more than 20% fuel savings and CO₂ reduction compared with previous generation single-aisle aircraft.
To date, more than 5,600 A321neos have been ordered by more than 100 customers.
Airbus says the A350 is the world’s most modern and efficient widebody aircraft and the long range leader in the 300-410 seater category, flying efficiently on any sector from short-haul to ultra-long-haul routes up to 9,700nm. Its clean sheet design includes state-of-the-art technologies, aerodynamics, lightweight materials and latest generation engines that together deliver 25% advantage in fuel burn, operating costs and CO₂ emissions, as well as 50% noise reduction compared with previous generation competitor aircraft.
The A350 family has two versions – the A350-900, and the longer fuselage A350-1000, both offering an ultimate passenger experience even on the longest of flights. Its innovative design delivers a true feeling of spaciousness, with wide seats, high ceilings and alluring ambient lighting.
By end November 2023, the A350 family has won 1,072 orders from 57 leading customers.
The A350F features the largest main deck cargo door and a fuselage length optimised for cargo operations. More than 70% of the airframe is made of advanced materials, which together with efficient Rolls-Royce engines, generate an advantage of at least 20% lower fuel burn and CO₂ emission over its current closest competitor.
With this latest endorsement by Turkish Airlines the A350F orderbook stands at 50 orders from nine customers following its launch at the Dubai Airshow two years ago.