Turkish Airlines finalises order for up to 150 Boeing 737 MAX jets with deliveries from 2033

Contract terms and delivery schedule

Turkish Airlines announced on Wednesday in a regulatory filing to Turkey's Public Disclosure Platform that it finalized a purchase agreement with Boeing for 150 narrow-body aircraft. The transaction comprises 100 firm orders for the Boeing 737-8 model and purchase options for an additional 50 aircraft from the 737 MAX family. The contract includes provisions that permit the carrier to convert its orders into the higher-capacity 737-10 variant. Deliveries of the single-aisle aircraft are scheduled to take place between 2033 and 2037. The total financial value of the contract was not publicly disclosed by either party.

The formal signing took place in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Boeing Commercial Airplanes head Stephanie Pope attended the ceremony. Turkish state news agency Anadolu reported that the contract represents the largest single-aisle jet order the airline has ever placed with Boeing.

Resolution of engine maintenance negotiations

Negotiations between the Turkish flag carrier and Boeing began in 2025, building upon discussions held at the White House between Erdogan and US President Donald Trump. In September 2025, the carrier had outlined an intended commitment for 225 aircraft, comprising 150 single-aisle 737 MAX jets alongside 75 wide-body 787 Dreamliners, with first Dreamliner deliveries scheduled for 2029.

The finalization of the 737 MAX order encountered prolonged delays over engine maintenance contract terms. Turkish Airlines had threatened to break off discussions with engine manufacturer CFM International, a joint venture between GE Aerospace and France's Safran. After resolving the commercial dispute, the airline and Boeing moved forward to execute the finalized purchase agreement.

Operational scale and fleet expansion

Turkish Airlines operates out of its primary hub at Istanbul Airport, offering flights to more than 320 destinations across more than 130 countries on all inhabited continents. According to figures on the airline's website, the carrier transported 92.6 million passengers in 2025 and operates a fleet of 514 aircraft. Separate figures from Boeing state that the fleet comprises 567 aircraft when cargo transports are included. The carrier currently maintains an active operational fleet of approximately 400 Boeing and Airbus aircraft.

Diplomatic engagement and global sales pipeline

The announcement coincided with Erdogan's diplomatic meetings in New York during the UN General Assembly, where he met with Trump and Middle Eastern leaders on Tuesday. Trump welcomed the agreement in a statement on his Truth Social network.

This is a great day for Boeing and for American industry.

Trump stated that the transaction amounts to tens of billions of dollars in export value and supports tens of thousands of manufacturing jobs across the United States. He also noted that Bangladesh had placed an order for 11 Boeing aircraft. The completion of the Turkish transaction precedes planned trade discussions in Washington between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. A preliminary bilateral framework established in May outlined potential Chinese purchases of 200 Boeing aircraft. Boeing chief executive Kelly Ortberg told investors at a recent conference that while he does not anticipate an immediate comprehensive agreement with Beijing, the manufacturer expects incremental order increases.