Turkish Airlines To Buy 36 Airbus, 15 Boeing Planes

ISTANBUL, July 21 (AFP) - Turkish Airlines (THY) said Wednesday that it would buy 36 planes from European aircraft maker Airbus and 15 planes from US giant Boeing as part of the carrier's plans to beef up its fleet, the Anatolia news agency reported.
Airbus later estimated the value of its deal at more than three billion dollars, while Boeing said its agreement would likely be worth 900 million dollars.
In a brief statement sent to the Turkish stock exchange, Turkish Airlines said its executive board had decided in a meeting on Tuesday to buy five Airbus A330/200 planes to meet its need for long-range aircraft.
Turkish Airlines will also purchase 12 A321/200s and 19 A320/200s as mid-range planes, the statement said.
In addition, it will also buy 15 Boeing B737/800s to serve its mid-range needs, it said.
Following the announcement, Airbus and Boeing confirmed the protocol agreements at the Farnborough International air show in Farnborough, England near London.
"Airbus signed a memorandum of understanding with Turkish Airlines for the purchase of five A330/200s, 12 A321s and 19 A320s," Airbus spokesman Philippe Delmas said, adding the deal could be worth more than three billion dollars to the company.
Boeing confirmed it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Turkish Airlines for the purchase of 15 737-800 jetliners for a theoretical price of 900 million dollars.
A Boeing spokesman at the Farnborough air show told Agence France-Presse that the final order would be signed by the end of the summer.
The purchases come as part of Turkish Airlines' plans to renew the aging fleet operated by the largely state-owned flag carrier, which currently operates 65 planes.
THY spokesman Recep Duvelioglu said that in addition to the purchases, the company would terminate the contracts of some of its leased aircraft and lease other planes.
"We are planning to increase our fleet up to 100 planes by the end of 2005," he told AFP.
The THY announcement came during an official visit by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to France during which the Airbus deal was discussed.
The office of French President Jacques Chirac said Tuesday that the deal with Airbus was being finalised.
THY, which is set for large-scale privatization, flew 10.4 million passengers to 103 destinations in 2003, posting a profit of roughly 147 million dollars.