Turkish Airlines operated its first Boeing 787 to Dublin on Saturday 12 December 2020 with TC-LLE Boeing 787-9 MSN 65805. The aircraft has seating capacity for 300 passengers, including 270 economy class seats and 30 business class seats and was delivered on 14th September and is powered by GEnx-1B74/75 engines.  

The airline is the 71st Boeing 787 customer with a total of 25 on order plus 5 options to be delivered between 2019 and 2023 in a contract valued at $7 billion at list prices. The carrier plans to deploy 787-9 to operate new non-stop international routes such as Atlanta, Bali, Bogota-Panama, Vancover Washington. Due to the impact of Covid-19 the carrier may defer deliveries beyond 2023.

Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee M. İlker Aycı said “Turkish Airlines has been committed to continuously expanding its range of services on and off-ground as it grows in reach and flies to more international destinations than any other carrier in the world. With this goal in mind, we’re thrilled to reach new horizons with the addition of the 787-9 Dreamliner to our fleet flying from our new home, Istanbul Airport. The aircraft’s advanced technology, fuel efficiency, and passenger-centric cabin design will all help us remain the first choice for travellers and provide our loyal flyers across the globe with a best-in-class experience for years to come.”

The carrier currently operates a fleet of 14 Boeing 787-9 aircraft. 

Image courtesy of Elevationair  

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