Turkish Airlines Places Record Boeing Order Amid Middle Eastern Aviation Boom

Turkish Airlines has finalized an order for up to 150 Boeing 737 Max aircraft as part of its global expansion plans. The airline placed a firm order for 100 737-8 Max jets and options for 50 more, making it the largest single-aisle order for the US planemaker.

The agreement was signed in New York in the presence of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Boeing said that the agreement includes substitution rights for the 737-10 variant, which will allow Turkish Airlines to serve more passengers on more routes and meet growing demand.

Turkish Airlines chairman Murat Şeker stated that the aircraft will bring greater efficiency and flexibility to its operations. The airline operates a fleet of over 200 Boeing aircraft and has seen a 21 percent year-on-year increase in revenues to $13 billion in the first half of 2026, although net earnings fell 35 percent annually to $423 million.

Boeing's rival Airbus forecasts that the Middle East will need more than 3,800 new aircraft over the next two decades as air traffic is set to more than double.