Turkish Airlines has finalised one of the largest narrowbody aircraft orders in its history, signing for 100 Boeing 737 MAX 8s with options for a further 50 aircraft as the carrier continues its rapid fleet expansion.
The agreement concludes negotiations that began in 2025 and was signed in New York in the presence of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Stephanie Pope, and Turkish Airlines Chairman Prof. Murat Şeker.
100 Firm Aircraft, 50 More on Option
The order consists of 100 firm Boeing 737-8 aircraft, while Turkish Airlines has secured purchase rights for another 50 MAX family jets. The airline will also have the flexibility to convert part of the order to the larger 737-10 should demand require additional capacity.
It marks Turkish Airlines’ largest Boeing single-aisle order to date and builds on the airline’s long-standing partnership with the American manufacturer.
Supporting Growth from Istanbul
Turkish Airlines said the new aircraft will strengthen its short and medium-haul network from Istanbul, improving both efficiency and operational flexibility as it expands across Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Boeing says the 737 MAX family offers a 20% reduction in fuel use and emissions compared to the aircraft it replaces.
The airline, together with its low-cost subsidiary AJet, already operates more than 200 Boeing aircraft, including the 737 MAX, 787 Dreamliner, 777 and 777 Freighter.
A Deal Nearly a Year in the Making
While the aircraft order had largely been agreed in principle, negotiations were delayed for months by discussions surrounding CFM International’s LEAP-1B engines, particularly long-term maintenance and commercial terms. The final agreement removes that obstacle and gives Turkish Airlines a clear path for continued narrowbody fleet renewal.
