Turkish Airlines (TK, Istanbul Airport) has postponed its eagerly anticipated record order for up to 600 aircraft by about two months, to late summer 2023, in order to consider the effects of the recent Turkish presidential elections and avoid rushing the decision that will define the company's future.
"The new government's election process went longer than anticipated. With one of the engine manufacturers, we were quite close to reaching an agreement. We will put off making a selection for roughly two months in order to be fair to the other manufacturer. We won't make a hasty choice at Paris Le Bourget [the Paris Air Show], so we'll make a different statement in Istanbul in roughly two months "During a press conference at the IATA AGM, Chairman Ahmet Bolat said
Bolat reaffirmed that 200 widebodies and 400 narrowbodies will each receive a portion of the promise. Bolat claimed that Turkish Airlines was in contact with both Airbus and Boeing but made no mention of the nature of the order.
Contracts from both manufacturers will likely be combined in the announcement. Although specifics have not been made public, it is anticipated that the contract will in some way benefit the Turkish aerospace industry.
The B777-9s or A350-1000s would most likely make up the 25 new generation long-range widebody aircraft that would be included in the deal.
According to Bolat, the previously anticipated order for regional planes has been postponed until the narrow- and wide-body fleet contracts have been finalized. He noted that both the A220s and the E2s had engine problems, which made this choice more difficult.
Australia plans
By the end of 2023, Turkish Airlines will begin offering flights to Australia, according to Bolat. At first, the airline will only fly three times a week from Singapore Changi to Melbourne Tullamarine. The Chairman acknowledged that this was a poor proposition, but only new-generation widebodies would allow for improvements. Since the market is already well-served, the airline does not require fifth-freedom traffic rights between Singapore and Australia. Turkish Airlines now operates 10 weekly flights between Istanbul Airport and Singapore, according to the ch-aviation schedules module.
Due to a more constrained international offer and a sizeable Turkish diaspora in the city, Melbourne was chosen.
Turkish Airlines' future plans include establishing daily service to Sydney Kingsford Smith and increasing the frequency of Melbourne flights to daily. Perth International and Brisbane International are also being examined in the long run.
Oceania is the final continent that Turkish Airlines does not yet serve.
