Turkish Airlines Chair Ahmet Bolat said Thursday the carrier could abandon its planned order for 150 Boeing 737 MAX jets if contract talks with engine supplier CFM International break down. Bolat said that Airbus offers more flexibility, because its aircraft support multiple engine suppliers, providing Turkish Airlines with alternatives in case CFM’s terms remain unworkable.

Turkey had tentatively agreed to the Boeing order during a recent meeting between Presidents Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Donald Trump, but execution is conditional on a separate engine deal. Bolat stated that while talks with CFM have progressed somewhat, disagreements over cost structures remain unresolved.

CFM, a joint venture between GE Aerospace and Safran, is the exclusive engine provider for the 737 MAX. Its sole-supplier status limits airlines’ bargaining power compared to the multiprovider environment available to Airbus customers. Bolat emphasized that if CFM “continues its stance,” Turkish Airlines will “change to Airbus.”

Still, Bolat said that Turkish Airlines remains open to placing future orders for Boeing aircraft, including the delayed 777X wide-body. He indicated that the airline is closely watching the 777X’s development, though no immediate order is planned.

The potential switch would represent a major shift in Turkish Airlines’ fleet strategy. The carrier already has a large Airbus order book and has increasingly diversified its relationships with both major aircraft makers amid growing risks tied to engine supply chains.

Source: Reuters.