Turkish Airlines expands through one of the largest deals with European Airbus
The state-owned Turkish Airlines has confirmed its request to purchase more than 200 Airbus aircraft, with the option to purchase more than 100 additional aircraft, as part of the company’s expansion plan over the course of its strategic plan for the period 2023-2033.
The CEO of the Turkish company, Bilal Akshi, said that the total number of new aircraft may reach 355, which will make the deal one of the largest orders in the history of the aviation industry.
Akshi added, in a statement issued on Saturday, that Turkish Airlines had submitted orders to purchase 230 aircraft, including 150 A321neo aircraft and 80 A350-900 aircraft, with the rights to purchase 125 additional aircraft, while Turkish Airlines reported Airbus said that the number of new aircraft is only 220, and that the other ten aircraft were previously ordered by the Turkish company in September, bringing the book value of the requested aircraft to about 40 billion dollars.
Director of the Academy of Thought in Istanbul, Bakir Atacan, says that developing and increasing the Turkish air fleet comes within his country’s policy to increase transportation and destinations around the world, but the contract with Airbus, of this size and value, confirms the hopes placed on the air transport sector, in conjunction with Turkey’s continued harvest. International awards. He added that strengthening the role of the Turkish national carrier to all parts of the world increases confidence and tourism, and is reflected in the country’s economic aspirations.
Regarding the presence of American Boeing aircraft in the Turkish fleet, Atagan explained, in an interview with Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, that his country diversified between the two companies, and two years ago it had purchased 5 American aircraft, but the European company prevailed.
Atacan alluded to the differences between his country and the United States in the aviation sector, after Washington canceled the deal to sell F-35 military aircraft, and removed Ankara from the F-35 fighter aircraft programme, which was a point of contention between the two countries, due to Turkey’s acquisition of the Russian defense system. “S-400” and the immaturity of the agreement to manufacture accessories for the American “Boeing” aircraft in Turkey, as was the agreement two years ago.
Turkish Airlines diversifies its sources
However, the Turkish researcher adds that the deal with Airbus is economic and has nothing to do with politics or previous tensions with Washington. He added: “If Boeing submits offers, Turkish Airlines, which will expand its fleet, will purchase 600 aircraft as part of a plan, bringing the number of aircraft in the company’s fleet, within the strategic plan, to more than a thousand aircraft.”
The director of the Academy of Thought in Istanbul points out that there are many messages that Turkey wants to deliver to the European Union countries, including that it is interested in the European market, and that its relationship with Europe is strong. At the same time, it denies accusations that it is economically directed towards China and Russia only.
Turkish Airlines, which was founded in 1933, annually wins international awards, the most recent of which was last month, when it received the “Mediterranean Tourism Award” at a tourism forum held in Malta, and before that, the APEX World Class Award, for its global leadership in hosting experience, and the Best European Carrier Award in… Skytrax World Awards Ceremony.
The Turkish company, whose profits last year approached $2.7 billion, reached record revenues of $18.4 billion, and flew flights to 344 destinations in 129 countries, with a fleet of about 400 aircraft, which last year transported more than 72 million passengers.
2023-12-17 22:40:08
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