Turkish Airlines Defers 39 A321neo & 737 MAX Deliveries

Photo: planespotters.net

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Istanbul-based Turkish Airlines will defer 39 narrowbody deliveries from a 167-strong Airbus and Boeing aircraft order because of decreased demand resulting from a series of terrorist bombings and other economic challenges in Turkey.

The Star Alliance member reported to the Borsa Istanbul stock exchange Oct. 7 that it has decided to reschedule deliveries of some of its 92 Airbus A321neo, 65 Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 10 737 MAX 9 aircraft that were planned to enter the fleet between 2018-2022.

The airline declined to give details on which aircraft types are affected by year, but said narrowbody deliveries will be reduced from 34 to 10 for 2018; from 40 to 35 for 2019; and from 52 to 42 for 2020. Six of the re-engined narrowbody aircraft are expected to be delivered in 2021, 30 in 2022 and 15 in 2023.

Turkish took delivery of its 300th aircraft earlier this year.

CEO Temel Kotil told ATW recently that all aircraft planned for delivery this year will be accepted. For the full-year 2016, Turkish plans to add five Airbus A330-200s, seven A321s, one A330-200F, six Boeing 777-300ERs and 14 737-800s to its fleet.

Turkish Airlines recorded a first-half 2016 net loss of TRY1.89 million ($644 million), reversed from a net profit of TRY1.04 million for the year-ago period.

Turkish Airlines is targeting 61.2 million passengers carried for 2016.

Source: atwonline.com