Turkish Airlines (TK, Istanbul Airport) plans to meet Boeing to finalise a long-anticipated order for 150 B737 MAX, chairman Ahmet Bolat told Reuters in an interview.

Bolat again warned that the airline could switch to Airbus if engine discussions failed to progress, saying, "We’ll ask, 'Are you in or out?' If not, we’ll turn another page."

In September, the airline announced an order with Boeing for 150 MAX aircraft of the B737-8 and B737-10 variants, of which 100 were firm orders and 50 optional.

Talks also include a potential investment to establish an engine maintenance centre in Türkiye. CFM International, a joint venture between General Electric's aerospace division, GE Aerospace, and Safran Aircraft Engines (Paris Le Bourget), is the sole engine supplier for the B737 MAX, competing with Pratt & Whitney for A320neo contracts.

Meanwhile, on November 5, Turkish Airlines confirmed in a document seen by ch-aviation that the airline had reached an agreement with GE Aerospace on its order for seventy-five B787s to be delivered between 2029 and 2034.

"Negotiations were concluded following a tender for the procurement of wing-mounted engines, spare engines, and engine maintenance services for these aircraft, and an agreement was reached with GE Aerospace," the airline stated.

It has placed a firm order for thirty-five B787-9s and fifteen B787-10s, with 25 additional options.

Separately, Bolat said the carrier’s planned purchase of a 25-27% stake in Spain’s Air Europa (UX, Palma de Mallorca) for EUR300 million euros (USD345 million) is nearing completion. He added that Turkish Airlines is also exploring partnership opportunities in Asia, North and South America, and other regions.