Boeing nears deal to salvage 150-jet Turkish Airlines order

September 16, 2026 at 02:03 AM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Boeing is nearing an agreement to finalize Turkish Airlines' purchase of up to 150 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft after an engine maintenance dispute threatened to derail the deal, Reuters reported on September 15, 2026. The agreement could be signed next week, according to people familiar with the talks. Turkish Airlines had threatened to abandon the purchase and turn to Airbus.

Key Facts

Boeing is nearing an agreement to finalize Turkish Airlines' purchase of up to 150 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, Reuters reported on September 15, 2026.
The agreement could be signed next week, according to people familiar with the talks.
Turkish Airlines had threatened to abandon the purchase and turn to Airbus.
The dispute concerns maintenance arrangements with CFM International, the engine manufacturer jointly owned by GE Aerospace and Safran.
The MAX purchase was part of a package covering up to 225 Boeing aircraft announced in September 2025.

The Engine Maintenance Dispute

The dispute concerns maintenance arrangements with CFM International, the engine manufacturer jointly owned by GE Aerospace and Safran. Boeing and CFM declined to comment, while Turkish Airlines did not respond to Reuters' request. Turkish Airlines had threatened to abandon the purchase and turn to Airbus.

The 2025 Aircraft Package

The MAX purchase was part of a package covering up to 225 Boeing aircraft announced in September 2025, following a meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US President Donald Trump. Turkish Airlines outlined plans for 100 firm 737 MAX orders and options for another 50, with completion dependent on an agreement with CFM. The proposed purchase covers the 737-8 and larger 737-10. The 150-aircraft total therefore includes options, rather than 150 firm orders. Boeing described the commitment at the time as Turkish Airlines' largest single-aisle purchase from the manufacturer, once finalized.

Fleet Expansion Plans

The broader package also included 50 firm Boeing 787 orders, comprising 35 787-9s and 15 787-10s, plus options for another 25 Dreamliners. Those aircraft would support the airline's fleet renewal and expansion from its Istanbul hub. The 787-10 would be a new addition to Turkish Airlines' fleet. Boeing said the larger Dreamliner would provide more passenger and cargo capacity on busy routes to the United States, Africa, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. At the time of the announcement, Turkish Airlines operated more than 200 Boeing aircraft, including 737s, 777s and 787-9s. Boeing said the combined purchases, including options, would double the airline's Boeing fleet.