Trump Promises 'Large Scale' Boeing Orders As Türkiye Considers Return To F-35 Program

With Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan scheduled to visit Washington next week, US planemaker Boeing is hopeful of securing a significant commercial aircraft order from Turkish Airlines for as many as 250 aircraft. Additionally, a deal for F-16 fighter jets is on the cards for Lockheed Martin, while talks over Turkey’s re-inclusion into the F-35 program will continue.

US President Donald Trump stated this week that he and Erdoğan will be negotiating a “large-scale purchase of Boeing aircraft.” However, Turkish Airlines said it has yet to make a firm decision on a large Boeing acquisition.

Boeing Hoping To Land Mega Turkish Deal

Credit: Vincenzo Pace

President Erdoğan will be visiting Washington on September 25, his first state visit to the country since 2019. A variety of topics will be on the agenda, including trade deals related to both commercial and military aircraft acquisitions. On the commercial side, national carrier Turkish Airlines has long been in discussions with Boeing over the acquisition of up to 250 aircraft, consisting of a mix of Boeing 737 MAX and around 75 Boeing 787 Dreamliner jets.

Turkish Airlines spokesperson Yahya Ustun clarified that the airline has been discussing an order with Boeing for “quite some time, but no final decision has been made yet.” The carrier lodged a major order with Airbus for 220 aircraft back in December 2023, but has declared its intentions to double the size of its fleet with another mega order. Trump and Erdoğan are also due to meet for talks in October, so a deal could be thrashed out then if nothing materializes next week.

But Trump has spoken optimistically of getting a deal over the line, stating on his Truth Social account,

“We are working on many Trade and Military Deals with the President, including the large-scale purchase of Boeing aircraft, a major F-16 Deal, and a continuation of the F-35 talks, which we expect to conclude positively. President Erdoğan and I have always had a very good relationship.”

Turkish Airlines Wants 800 Aircraft By 2033

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Turkish Airlines already operates one of the most extensive networks of any global carrier, flying to over 340 destinations in 130 countries worldwide with a fleet of almost 400 aircraft. It operates a fairly even mix of Airbus and Boeing aircraft, opting for a mixed-fleet strategy of narrowbodies and widebodies from both manufacturers.

The carrier now wants to double the size of its fleet to an impressive 800 aircraft within the next eight years, and has already committed to 220 new aircraft from Airbus, consisting of the A321neo and A350.

While Boeing can be hopeful of securing a big order, Turkish Airlines chairman Ahmet Bolat said a deal would be heavily dependent on delivery slot availability, stating that the airline would go to Airbus again if slots were not favorable.

F-35 Conflict Resolution

Credit: US Air Force

Despite being one of the original foreign partners of the Lockheed Martin F-35 program, Turkey was kicked out after it acquired the Russian S-400 missile defense system, barring the country from purchasing and using the advanced F-35 fighter jet. At the time, Turkey blamed unfavorable terms for the US-made Patriot missile system and bought the Russian system in the interests of its national security.

However, according to Erdoğan, he has reached an agreement with Trump over the jets and declared that deliveries will commence during his current term. The Turkish president also said a potential deal for more F-16 fighter jets was on the agenda, despite the priority of returning to the F-35 program.

Turkey is NATO’s second-largest operator of the F-16 but scaled back its acquisition in the hopes of acquiring the F-35 instead. The US has six F-35s already built for Turkey, but these airframes remain in storage due to the ongoing disagreement.