Turkish Airlines set to order 600 aircraft, chairman says

Turkish Airlines will order a total of 600 new aircraft in June and they will be delivered within ten years, company chairman Ahmet Bolat said on Thursday. Such an order, if confirmed, would be the largest in the industry's history by a single airline, eclipsing a record order by Air India for 470 Airbus and Boeing planes in December, but his comments took some industry sources and analysts by surprise. Speaking weeks before Turkey is due to host airline leaders from the IATA, Bolat said the order would consist of 400 narrow-body aircraft and 200 wide-bodies, adding the fleet would increase to 810 aircraft by 2033. "During the IATA we are going to announce orders. With one of the big manufacturers, we are almost finishing our discussions. We are going to order (a total of) around 600 aircraft," Bolat told reporters at a press meeting for the launch of the company's renewed inflight dining concept. IATA's annual summit, grouping some 280 airlines, will be held in Istanbul on June 4-6.Bolat said THY was close to a deal with Boeing for part of the order but did not give further details. Boeing declined to comment. Turkish Airlines could hand an order for the rest of the new aircraft "to the other manufacturer" at the next European air show in June, Bolat added in an apparent reference to Airbus (AIR.PA), Boeing's European rival. Airbus declined to comment. The Paris Airshow takes place in the week of June 19.<br/>