Photo Credit: Getty Images
On Friday, Turkish Airlines announced an agreement to purchase up to 225 Boeing aircraft, coming just a day after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s first visit to the White House since 2019. During the more than two-hour meeting between Erdogan and President Donald Trump, Ankara expressed hope that Washington might lift sanctions imposed since 2020, which have prevented Turkey from acquiring American F-35 fighter jets. These sanctions were introduced in response to Turkey's acquisition of the Russian S-400 missile defense system.
Speaking to Turkish reporters on his flight home from Washington, Erdogan described a "sincere, constructive and productive atmosphere" during the talks. But he conceded that "resolving all problems in a single meeting is, of course, impossible".
The Turkish Airlines deal includes 150 confirmed Boeing aircraft to be delivered between 2029 and 2034, with an option for 75 more, the company said in a statement, without giving a figure of the cost.
"With these orders, we aim to transition our entire fleet to next-generation aircraft by 2035, boosting efficiency and supporting an average annual growth rate of six percent," the airline said.
The airline made a firm order for 50 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, with an option for 25 more. It also placed an order for 100 Boeing 737 MAX jets, with an option for 50 more.
The airline is also in talks with engine makers Rolls-Royce and GE Aerospace for engines, spare parts, and maintenance services for the Dreamliners. The Boeing deal follows Turkish Airlines' December 2023 announcement of a 355-plane order from European rival Airbus.
Reports of a Boeing deal had circulated in Turkish media earlier this week, ahead of Erdogan's meeting with Trump. It was Erdogan's first official reception at the White House since Trump's first term in 2019. He had been largely sidelined during President Joe Biden's 2020-2024 term.
Washington kicked Turkey out of an F-35 fighter jet programme in 2019 over the NATO member's purchase of the Russian air defense system. Trump said he was ready to lift sanctions against Ankara over the S-400 missiles if the meeting went well.
But he also pushed the key issue of Ukraine with Erdogan, whose country has refused to join international sanctions on Moscow and has even stepped up its purchases of Russian oil.
Turkey is Russia's fourth-biggest trading partner.
