Celebrating the historic order for 150 A321neo and 80 A350 Family aircraft placed in December 2023, Türkiye’s flag carrier Turkish Airlines, Airbus and Rolls-Royce came together at Turkish Airlines’ headquarters in Istanbul. Present were the Turkish Minister of Trade Mr. Prof. Ömer Bolat, Minister of Industry and Technology Mr. Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Mr. Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, and Deputy Minister of National Defence Mr. Bilal Durdalı, representatives of top Turkish aerospace companies as well as the British Consul General, and undersecretaries of France and Spain.
The celebration also marked the unveiling of the Strategic Türkiye Enhanced Programme (STEP), which
was created by Airbus, Turkish Airlines and aerospace companies in Türkiye to further develop the
Turkish aerospace industry in line with Turkish Airlines’ long-term strategic growth plan and create
exponential economic value over the next 15 years.
The recent aircraft order position Turkish Airlines as the world’s largest operator of Rolls-Royce’s Trent
XWB engine. In line with the partnership with Rolls-Royce, the manufacturer is exploring the
implementation of a number of industrial initiatives in Türkiye, including the potential establishment of a
competitive Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) capability and further supply chain sourcing.
Commenting on the STEP and the partnership with Rolls-Royce Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board
and the Executive Committee, Prof. Ahmet Bolat stated: “We are glad about the launch of the Strategic
Türkiye Enhanced Programme with Airbus, which is a testament to our deepening collaboration with the
aircraft manufacturer. Given the rapid advancements in technology, today marks the commencement of
our efforts to help cultivate Turkish aviation companies into prospective suppliers, aligning closely with
Airbus’ strategic objectives and their newly identified business domains. We are also delighted to further
strengthen our relationship with Rolls-Royce. By joining forces with the manufacturing giants, we
underscore our commitment to both excellence and the further development of Türkiye's aerospace
capabilities. With the significant cooperation between three valuable companies, Turkish Airlines will
continue to leverage advanced technologies and collaborative strategies to enhance our operational
efficiencies and contribute to continuing our sustainable growth while reinforcing our leading role on the
global aviation stage.”
Guillaume Faury, Airbus CEO said; “We thank Turkish Airlines for their trust and we are honoured to
both support their growth as one of the world‘s elite airlines and develop our partnership with Türkiye
through the new STEP programme we are unveiling today. The programme will provide the framework
for Airbus to further broaden its collaboration with Türkiye and support Turkish Airlines’ growth
ambitions, with a particular focus on supply chain development, skills and sustainability.”
Tufan Erginbilgiç, Rolls-Royce CEO said; “Türkiye is a strategically important market for Rolls-Royce
across our business. We are very pleased with the confidence that Turkish Airlines has placed in our Trent
XWB engines. We now look forward to working with Turkish Airlines and our partners to use our
extensive aerospace engineering experience to benefit the Turkish economy, grow the country’s skills
base and expand its role in the energy transition. I am personally very energised by the strengthening
relationship between our great company, Turkish Airlines and the Republic of Türkiye.”
Türkiye has been an integral part of Airbus’ supply chain for over 20 years, and today every Airbus
commercial aircraft from the A220 to the A350 includes Turkish supplied parts. Directly and indirectly
over 3,500 Turkish aeronautical jobs are supported by Airbus. At the end of 2023, the accumulated total
amount invested by Airbus in Türkiye has exceeded US$4 billion. In addition, the 20-year collaboration
has established a wealth of expertise, technological advancements and a highly skilled workforce in
Türkiye’s aerospace sector.
These initiatives aim to further develop the Turkish aerospace industry in accordance with Turkish
Airlines growth ambition as well as Türkiye’s aim to develop a robust aerospace industry. Supported
with the acquisition of A321neo and A350 aircraft which aligns with Turkish Airlines' ongoing
commitment to expand its reach and enhance service capabilities across its extensive flight network, the
partnership also underscores all three partners’ focus on sustainability and technological advancement.
This forward-thinking approach is designed to foster innovation, create high-skilled jobs, and elevate
Türkiye as a key player in the aerospace sector.
About Turkish Airlines:
Established in 1933 with a fleet of five aircraft, Star Alliance member Turkish Airlines has a fleet of 454
(passenger and cargo) aircraft flying to 346 worldwide destinations as 293 international and 53
domestics in 130 countries. More information about Turkish Airlines can be found on its official website
www.turkishairlines.com or its social media accounts on Facebook, X, Youtube, Linkedin and Instagram.
About Star Alliance:
The Star Alliance network was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance, based on a
customer value proposition of global reach, worldwide recognition, and seamless service. Since
inception, it has offered the largest and most comprehensive airline network, with a focus on improving
customer experience across the Alliance journey. The member airlines are: Aegean Airlines, Air Canada,
Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Avianca, Brussels Airlines, Copa
Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa,
Scandinavian Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SWISS, TAP Air
