Turkish Airlines Could Shift 150 Boeing Orders to Airbus if Engine Talks Fail

According to a Reuters report, Turkish Airlines (THY) Chairman Ahmet Bolat said that if negotiations with engine supplier CFM International do not progress, the airline may redirect its Boeing 737 MAX orders to Airbus.

Speaking to Reuters in Stockholm, Bolat said that THY would continue its agreement with Boeing if CFM offered favorable financial terms but noted that disagreements over costs persist. “If CFM offers suitable economic conditions, we’ll sign with Boeing. But if it maintains its current stance, we’ll move to Airbus. With Airbus, I have options,” he said.

CFM International, a joint venture between General Electric (GE) and Safran, is the sole engine supplier for Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. It competes with RTX’s Pratt & Whitney division, which supplies engines for the Airbus A320neo family.

The report recalls that in September, Turkish Airlines reached a preliminary deal with Boeing for 150 737 MAX jets, coinciding with a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The deal depends on a separate agreement regarding engine supply.

Industry sources told Reuters that the deal could still go through due to political interest and the limited availability of Airbus planes. However, they noted that rising engine costs and maintenance delays have strained relations between suppliers and airlines.

Bolat also said Turkish Airlines is interested in Boeing’s 777X model, which has faced development delays. However, he emphasized there is no rush to order: “When the time is right, we’ll order some 777X aircraft.”

The Boeing 777X is scheduled to enter service in 2027 — about seven years later than its original delivery timeline.