On the brink of an enormous order for tons of of latest plane, Turkish Airlines (THY) seeks to grow to be one of many world’s big airline corporations, alongside three main carriers within the U.S. and China, in accordance with its chairperson, Ahmet Bolat.
Bolat’s remarks come greater than every week after Türkiye’s nationwide flag provider was reported to have held talks with Airbus to debate a possible order of 355 new plane, which, if agreed, would be the largest within the firm’s historical past.
The firm is contemplating shopping for 75 wide-body A350-900s and 15 wide-body A350-1000s plane in addition to 250 narrow-body A321neo plane and 5 A350F cargo plane, along with 10 A350-900s for which phrases have already been agreed.
Turkish Airlines has already mentioned publicly it desires to nearly double its fleet to greater than 800 planes by 2033. Bolat mentioned deliveries beneath the brand new orders have been anticipated to begin in 2026. Combined with its subsidiaries, the fleet is anticipated to achieve a complete of 950 plane, he famous.
“In the U.S., there are three main airways: United, American and Delta. There are new developments in Asia, however their future is unsure. There are three main Chinese corporations other than the three American corporations. They will proceed to develop. Because they’ve an amazing home market. What stays? Lufthansa is already behind us. So is Air France. Emirates isn’t very associated to us. Therefore, solely Turkish Airlines stays,” mentioned Bolat.
“What I’m saying isn’t a prediction. We will enter the ranks of the seven big corporations,” he informed Sabah day by day.
He was talking after a ceremony to mark the launch of Turkish Airlines’ direct flights to Detroit, its thirteenth vacation spot within the U.S.
The provider flies to probably the most international locations on the planet and makes use of its hub in Istanbul to construct a mega community from all over the place in Europe to all over the place in Asia and Africa.
Bolat says the $12 billion Istanbul Airport, opened in 2018, has helped resolve the largest constraint he says had been stopping the corporate from changing into the only real main airline within the area from London to the Far East.
He underscored the strategic significance of distant international locations, such because the United States, inside the framework of the provider’s 2033 technique, which foresees the variety of Turkish Airlines’ passengers reaching 170 million within the subsequent decade.
The provider goals to raise the determine to 85 million this yr, in comparison with about 82 million passengers served in 2022.
The flights to Detroit, which began on Nov. 15, would run 3 times every week between Istanbul Airport and Detroit Metropolitan Airport, earlier than rising to 4 instances every week as of Dec. 25, in accordance with Bolat. He expressed plans for additional enlargement within the U.S., focusing on Denver subsequent yr and subsequently Orlando.
Bolat highlighted the significance of tourism, stating that Türkiye attracts roughly 55-60 million vacationers yearly. To enhance these numbers, THY is actively selling Türkiye in its international advertising and marketing efforts, he added.
“Now, wherever we go, we are not just advertising THY but also Türkiye. Natural beauty is everywhere, but Türkiye is where history and civilization began,” he mentioned.
Bolat identified that 1.4 million vacationers from the U.S. have visited Türkiye to this point this yr, in comparison with 1 million a yr in the past, aiming to double this determine and attain 2.5 million, together with Canada.
Looking forward to 2026, Bolat anticipates a speedy transformation in plane cabins, revealing plans to make use of THY’s personal business class and financial system class seats. Despite the present price of seats being about $80,000, Bolat expressed confidence that THY would produce them extra cost-effectively. He highlighted the first price being in engineering and design, stating that domestically produced seats are presently present process testing to make sure passenger consolation.
Bolat additionally elaborated on SunExpress, the provider’s three way partnership with Germany’s Lufthansa. He mentioned Sunexpress would increase within the Mediterranean tourism gem Antalya and the encompassing space.
“As you realize, Sunexpress will develop in Antalya. The airport will develop. New Turkish corporations are being established there. Antalya is the guts of tourism, nevertheless it shouldn’t be depending on Russians alone. We try to work with Indian vacationers. For instance, Indigo,” he famous.
He additionally mentioned negotiations with Boeing have been held to increase SunExpress, which he says is anticipated to achieve a fleet of 150 plane.
Source: www.dailysabah.com