Turkish Airlines Orders 100 Boeing 737-8 Jets With 50 Options

Boeing and Turkish Airlines announced a finalized order for up to 150 737 MAX airplanes on 23. September 2026, with the flag carrier purchasing 100 737-8 jets and securing options for 50 more in its largest Boeing single-aisle order, according to Boeing’s announcement. The agreement concludes discussions the companies initiated in 2025 and supports the carrier’s expansion goals.

The agreement was finalized in New York in the presence of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, president of the Republic of Türkiye. Prof Murat Şeker, Turkish Airlines chairman of the board and the executive committee, and Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, marked the signing alongside Erdoğan.

The firm portion covers 100 737-8 airplanes, with options for 50 additional 737 MAX jets. The agreement includes substitution rights for the 737-10, the largest 737 MAX variant, which Boeing said will allow Turkish Airlines to comfortably serve more passengers on more routes to meet growing demand.

“This agreement marks another significant step in the continued expansion of our fleet. The new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft will bring greater efficiency and flexibility to our operations, supporting the extensive network we serve from our hub in Istanbul,” Şeker said. “We are pleased to build on our longstanding cooperation with Boeing through an agreement that also supports Türkiye’s aviation ecosystem.”

Turkish Airlines, including its AJet operation, flies a fleet of more than 200 Boeing airplanes that includes the 737 MAX, 787 Dreamliner, 777, 737 Next-Generation and 777 Freighter. By adding more 737-8 jets, the airline will leverage the airplane’s range, payload flexibility and fuel efficiency to serve high-demand domestic and international routes, Boeing said.

“This order reflects the trust and shared vision that have defined our long-standing partnership with Turkish Airlines,” Pope said. “We’re proud to continue our support of Türkiye’s aviation ecosystem and Turkish Airlines as it grows its Istanbul-based network, connecting more people and destinations worldwide.”

Boeing stated the 737 MAX family reduces fuel use and emissions by 20% compared with the airplanes they replace, enabling lower operating costs and supporting the airline’s growth strategy to meet rising travel demand.

The agreement is accompanied by industrial participation, under which Boeing continues its commitment and support of the Turkish aviation ecosystem.

Established in 1933 with a fleet of five aircraft, Star Alliance member Turkish Airlines operates 567 passenger and cargo aircraft flying to 358 destinations, 305 international and 53 domestic, in 133 countries, according to the company.

2025 Dreamliner Order and Türkiye Partnership

The 737 MAX purchase builds on Turkish Airlines’ order for up to 75 787 Dreamliners announced on 25. September 2025, the carrier’s largest Boeing widebody purchase. That order comprised 35 787-9 airplanes, 15 of the larger 787-10 and options for 25 additional Dreamliners, and Boeing said it would support more than 123,000 jobs across the U.S., according to Boeing’s September 2025 announcement.

In the same announcement, Turkish Airlines stated its intent to purchase up to 150 737 MAX airplanes, which Boeing said would become the airline’s largest single-aisle order with the manufacturer once finalized. Boeing said the 787 and 737 MAX orders combined would double Turkish Airlines’ Boeing fleet as the carrier expands its capacity and network.

Prof. Ahmet Bolat, who then chaired Turkish Airlines’ board and executive committee, said at the time that the addition of the Boeing aircraft would enhance the airline’s operational capabilities and become a significant element supporting its 2033 Vision of expanding the fleet to 800 aircraft.

Boeing said adding the 787-10 to the airline’s future fleet will provide additional passenger and cargo capacity while improving fuel efficiency on high-demand routes between Istanbul and destinations in the U.S., Africa, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. More than 1,200 787 Dreamliners have been delivered, and the family serves about 500,000 passengers daily while connecting the most countries of any widebody fleet, according to Boeing.

Boeing stated it has partnered with Türkiye and the Turkish aviation industry for 80 years, supporting the country’s airline operators with commercial jets and services and the government with defense platforms. With offices in Ankara and Istanbul, Boeing has invested $2 billion in supply chain development in Türkiye, creating nearly 5,000 jobs. The company said those investments foster growth in the local aerospace sector, promote innovation and enhance the integration of Turkish industry into the global aerospace supply chain through its supplier development program.