Turkish Airlines Orders Up to 150 Boeing 737 MAX Aircraft

Turkish Airlines has finalized an agreement with The Boeing Company to purchase up to 150 737 MAX aircraft, securing narrowbody capacity for the carrier’s long-term expansion strategy and concluding a year of complex supplier negotiations.

The deal, announced in a Boeing press release on September 23, 2026, includes 100 firm orders for the Boeing 737-8 variant and 50 options. The agreement provides Turkish Airlines with substitution rights for the larger Boeing 737-10 model. Deliveries are scheduled to take place between 2033 and 2037.

Strategic Fleet Expansion and Vision 2033

The narrowbody order is a central component of the flag carrier’s “Vision 2033” plan. Coinciding with the airline’s 100th anniversary, the strategy targets a total fleet size of 800 aircraft by 2033. Turkish Airlines currently operates a mixed fleet of 567 passenger and cargo aircraft.

This 737 MAX agreement builds upon a 2025 order for 75 Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The two deals combined represent a massive recapitalization of the airline’s short, medium, and long-haul networks.

“This agreement marks another significant step in the continued expansion of our fleet. The new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft will bring greater efficiency and flexibility to our operations, supporting the extensive network we serve from our hub in Istanbul,” said Prof Murat Şeker, Chairman of the Board and Executive Committee at Turkish Airlines.

Resolving Engine Disputes and Industrial Agreements

The finalization of the 737 MAX order concludes negotiations that began in September 2025. While the widebody portion of the 225-aircraft package was settled last year, the narrowbody segment faced a year-long delay. The hold-up stemmed from a dispute between Turkish Airlines and CFM International, the joint venture between GE Aerospace and Safran that serves as the exclusive engine supplier for the 737 MAX family.

The airline and the engine manufacturer clashed over pricing and long-term maintenance terms for the CFM LEAP-1B engines. During the impasse, Turkish Airlines indicated it might pivot the narrowbody order to Airbus. The finalized Boeing contract confirms that an acceptable resolution was reached with CFM International, though specific financial and maintenance terms remain undisclosed.

Industrial Participation Framework

Executives from both companies formalized the agreement in New York on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly. Alongside the aircraft purchase, the deal includes an industrial participation framework designed to develop technical capabilities and create business opportunities within Türkiye’s aviation sector.

“This order reflects the trust and shared vision that have defined our long-standing partnership with Turkish Airlines. We’re proud to continue our support of Türkiye’s aviation ecosystem and Turkish Airlines as it grows its Istanbul-based network,” said Stephanie Pope, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

AirPro News analysis

We view this finalized order as a critical retention victory for Boeing. Turkish Airlines is one of the few global carriers with the scale to credibly threaten a wholesale shift to a competitor over supplier disputes. By keeping the airline in the 737 MAX ecosystem, Boeing secures a vital backlog anchor for the next decade. For Turkish Airlines, locking in 150 delivery slots between 2033 and 2037 provides necessary predictability in an era of chronic aerospace supply chain constraints. The inclusion of substitution rights for the 737-10 also gives the carrier flexibility to upgauge capacity if slot constraints at key European hubs worsen by the time deliveries begin.

Sources: Boeing