Turkish Airlines (THY) is reportedly planning to place an order for a total of 600 new aircraft in June. The order, to be delivered over the course of ten years, would make it the largest single-airline order in the history of the aviation industry. The announcement came as a surprise to some industry sources and analysts.
According to THY Chairman Ahmet Bolat, the order will consist of 400 narrow-body and 200 wide-body aircraft, resulting in a fleet size of 810 aircraft by 2033. While Bolat mentioned that discussions with one of the major manufacturers are almost concluded, he did not provide further details.
It is believed that THY is close to reaching a deal with Boeing for part of the order, and the rest may be awarded to Airbus at the upcoming European air show in June.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) annual summit, which will gather airline leaders, is scheduled to take place in Istanbul from June 4 to 6. Bolat indicated that the order announcement would likely occur during the IATA event. Neither Boeing nor Airbus has commented on the matter at this time.
