Turkish Airlines (THY) Chairman of the Board Ahmet Bolat stated in an exclusive interview with Bloomberg that they may announce a leasing agreement for 30 aircraft to expand the fleet.
Bolat noted that the new aircraft orders have been completed and that further expansion could proceed through the leasing model.
“We’ve Completed New Orders, Now Leasing Is on Our Agenda”
Speaking to Bloomberg in Istanbul, Bolat shared important messages about THY’s fleet growth strategy.
Bolat said, “We’ve completed our new aircraft orders for now. However, we are considering expanding our fleet through leasing agreements. We may soon announce a leasing deal for 30 aircraft.”
In recent years, Turkish Airlines has drawn attention with large-scale aircraft orders from both Airbus and Boeing. The move towards the leasing model is considered a strategic choice in terms of fleet flexibility and optimising delivery schedules.
Critical Meeting with Engine Manufacturers Approaching
Bolat announced that they plan to hold an important meeting on engines with officials from Boeing, GE, Safran, and CFM in about two weeks.
He stated that the aim of this meeting is to finalise the engine supply agreement, adding, “Engine manufacturers are increasingly becoming monopolised in the market. This requires us to develop new strategies in terms of cost and competition.”
“No Acquisition or Merger on Our Agenda”
Commenting on THY’s growth plans, Bolat said that there are no current plans for new acquisitions or mergers.
Instead, he noted that they aim to grow through strategic partnerships in the US and Asian markets.
Bolat also emphasised the successful cooperation with Lufthansa, saying, “We are satisfied with SunExpress’s current partnership structure.”
Cargo Operations Minimally Affected by Global Tariffs
Referring to the impact of changes in global freight and cargo rates, Bolat commented, “Although it affects the cargo business line, the impact is not significant.”
THY Cargo has continued its rapid growth in the post-pandemic period, ranking among the world’s top five air cargo carriers.
