Turkish Airlines mulls order for B787s and A350s

Turkish Airlines chairman and executive committee President, Ilker Ayci, has refuted a report in Turkish daily Hürriyet linking the carrier to a proposed order for B747-8s, reports ch-aviation.
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Ayci said Turkish Airlines was more interested in the B787-9 from Boeing and the A350 from Airbus due to the fact that they are new generation aircraft offering superior performance in terms of range, capacity and operating costs. 

The aircraft, he said, have already been studied by his staff and are suitable for longhaul routes the airline is looking at opening in 2018 - Sydney Kingsford Smith (Australia) and México City in particular.

"We want to make the best possible decision about choosing the type of aircraft and the means for getting there," he was quoted by Harbeler magazine. He added that Turkish Airlines has yet to decide on whether to fly to the Australian metropolis in 2018 or whether it will be direct or transit. "We already know Mexico City, and we're working on it," he added.

On Turkish Airlines' Chinese growth plans, Ayci said colleagues of his were already in talks with major investors in the Far East over partnerships that would gain it increased access to the all-important Chinese market and even India. Currently, Turkish Airlines' Chinese operations are modest in comparison to other airlines with only Beijing Capital, Guangzhou, and Shanghai Pudong served.

"We want to enter China by establishing partnerships," he said. "I am saying China, but do not just read it as China, as in an airport operation in China, or an airline partnership. It dominates all the countries around it. But we can also partner with companies in these countries and be with China. Partnerships with other companies that have long international experience will allow us to indirectly enter those regions. We will continue to ask for increased frequencies and traffic rights at every level."