Turkish Airlines eyes record plane order in two months

ISTANBUL, Turkey - Turkish Airlines chairman said Monday that the company will make a final decision on plans for a record-breaking order of 600 aircraft in two months.

The airline is in talks with US aircraft maker Boeing and its European rival Airbus to purchase 400 single-aisle planes along with 200 jumbo jets, said chairman Ahmet Bolat.

Turkey's recent presidential election delayed the decision, Bolat said on the sidelines of the annual general meeting of the International Air Transport Association in Istanbul.

"We were very close to make a deal with one of the manufacturers... but we're going to wait for two months to announce our final decision," he said.

He declined to give details about the number of planes that might be ordered from each manufacturer.

Bola had previously been quoted as saying that a decision could be made at the IATA conference.

The mega-order would increase the airline's fleet to 800 planes within 10 years. It currently has 435 aircraft.

Turkish Airlines has ambitious growth plans, notably in Africa and Asia, with Istanbul's new airport serving as its main hub.

If the purchases involves firm orders, it would be the biggest in the history of civil aviation, beating the 470-plane order by Air India in February. - AFP