Turkish Airlines buys 15 Boeing 737 MAX airplanes

WASHINGTON - Agence France-Presse

The Istanbul-based carrier currently operates a fleet of more than 100 Next-Generation 737s and 15 777-300ERs. DHA Photo

U.S. aerospace giant Boeing and Turkish Airlines on June 16 finalized an order for 15 additional 737 MAX 8s, valued at $1.6 billion at list prices, the companies said.

The deal stemmed from the Turkish flag carrier's biggest Boeing order in its history, in May 2013, for 70 single-aisle 737s, Boeing best-selling airplane.

That order, for 50 of the new 737 MAXs and 20 Next-Generation 737s, was valued at $6.9 billion at list prices. As part of the deal, Turkish Airlines took an option to buy 25 additional airplanes, valued at $2.5 billion.

Airlines typically receive discounts on aircraft list prices. "Today's order represents another component of our continuous growth strategy, with the 737 MAX providing Turkish Airlines with increased flexibility across our ever-expanding network," said Ahmet Bolat, chief investment and technology officer of Turkish Airlines, in a statement.

With the latest order, Turkish Airlines has more than 100 unfilled orders for Boeing airplanes: 65 737 MAXs, more than 25 Next-Generation 737s and 20 777-300ER (Extended Range) airplanes, the companies said.

The Istanbul-based carrier currently operates a fleet of more than 100 Next-Generation 737s and 15 777-300ERs.  Boeing has more than 2,000 orders for the 737 MAX, a fuel-efficient airplane that it says will deliver an 8.0 percent operating cost per seat advantage over the new single-aisle aircraft planned by European rival Airbus, the A320neo.

The 737 MAX is Boeing's response to the new A320Neo. The first flights of both planes are scheduled in 2016, with deliveries to customers beginning in 2017.