Turkish Airlines firms up order for 100 Boeing 737 Max 8

Turkish Airlines has agreed a deal with Boeing for up to 150 737 Max aircraft, the carrier announced. The firm part covers 100 737 Max 8s, with options on another 50 of the same type.

The agreement includes conversion rights to the 737 Max 10. Turkish Airlines said this gives it room to adjust capacity as passenger demand rises across its network, and called it its largest order for short- and medium-haul aircraft from the US manufacturer.

It took a year to get there. Turkish Airlines had said a year earlier that it intended to order up to 150 737 Max as part of a wider package for up to 225 Boeing jets, but the contract was slow to follow. Talks with engine maker CFM International over pricing and engine maintenance were among the sticking points. At one stage the airline threatened to buy Airbus jets instead.

The rest of last year's 225-jet package was 75 Boeing 787 aircraft.

Turkish Airlines and its subsidiary Ajet operate more than 200 Boeing aircraft between them, including the 737 Max, 737 Next Generation, 787 Dreamliner, 777 and 777 freighter. The airline made no comment on the engines for the newly firmed order.