Turkish Airlines orders 200 Airbus aircraft worth tens of billions of dollars

Turkish Airlines has ordered more than 200 Airbus aircraft as part of a “milestone” agreement worth tens of billions of dollars to boost Istanbul’s role as an international hub and bolster Turkey’s already vast tourism industry. Turkey’s flag carrier said it had placed orders for 220 planes, including 70 long-distance wide-body A350 jets and 150 single-aisle A321neo aircraft. Turkish Airlines also obtained rights to buy an additional 125 Airbus aeroplanes.  The agreement, which has been under discussion for weeks, underscores the strong rebound in international air travel. Demand for the industry’s biggest jets has soared after a prolonged downturn during the Covid-19 pandemic that severely dented long-haul travel.  Order backlogs for both Airbus and its US rival Boeing are at record highs as airlines globally have rushed to place orders this year and secure increasingly scarce delivery slots.  “This investment is a crucial milestone in the further evolution of Turkey’s aviation industry,” said Turkish Airlines chair Ahmet Bolat, who added that it would contribute to the country’s “prominence as an aviation hub” and “have a considerable positive impact on Turkey’s tourism sector”.  The deal is a further fillip for Britain’s Rolls-Royce, whose Trent XWB engines power the A350 jets used for long-haul travel. The purchase commitments mean 2023 will be the best year for Rolls-Royce in terms of new orders for 15 years. The FTSE 100 company is in the middle of a sweeping restructuring under CE Tufan Erginbilgiç who took the helm at the start of this year.  The deal, which was welcomed by British prime minister Rishi Sunak, will make Turkish Airlines the largest Trent XWB operator in the world. Erginbilgiç said the pact was “proof that the actions we are taking to transform Rolls-Royce into a high performing and competitive company underpinned by profitable growth are working”.<br/>