After IAG, Qatar Airways and Etihad, Boeing also makes a big splash with Turkish (with Trump's hand in it)

Long since abandoned the 'ant strategy', Turkish Airlines is now proceeding by leaps and bounds on the path that, eight years from now following the '2033 Vision,' will lead it to be the world's largest airline by number of airplanes in its fleet outside North America, with more than 800 Boeing and Airbus.

And in recent days took an important step in that direction by announcing an order for 50 new Boeing 787s, 35 of them from the -9 series and 15 from the larger -10 series, as well as 25 options for more Dreamliners. The Turkish carrier currently has twenty-four 787s in service, all -9 series and configured in two classes with 30 seats in Business and 270 in Economy. While the current fleet has 389 aircraft, making it the second largest airline in Europe after Irish low-cost Ryanair.

The order follows the huge December 2023 order, in which Turkish had left Boeing high and dry by going 'all in' with Airbus and entrusting the European manufacturer with an order that included 150 Airbus A321neo and 70 Airbus A350, 50 of them from the -900 series and 15 from the -1000 series, the latter Set to 'launch' non-stop flights from Istanbul to Australia in what is a clear challenge to Qantas' 'Sunrise Project'.

It should be noted that two years ago relations between Turkey and the United States were bad, with Istanbul firmly siding with the Palestinians in the conflict with Israel and Washington instead firmly on pro-Israel positions. The order for Boeing follows the rapprochement between the two countries made possible by the changing of the guard in the White House, culminating in Turkish President Erdogan's visit to Washington last week, during which he was received in the Oval Office by Donald Trump.

The 75 Dreamliners were not enough, Turkish also announced its intent to purchase up to 150 more Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, with which to upgrade its short- and medium-haul fleet, which already features 20 MAX 8s and 5 MAX 9s.

What is certain is that Boeing is emerging, perhaps once and for all, from the 'shallows' into which the two accidents in 2019 involving two 737 MAX 8s had plunged it of Ethiopian Airlines and Lion Air that had led to the grounding of all MAXs for two years, as well as delays in the delivery of the first 777X. The American manufacturer also received in recent days an order from Norwegian for thirty 737 MAXs and one from Uzbekistan Airways for twenty-two 787s.

The Trump administration has so far played no small role in the 'rebirth' of Everett's company, considering that the largest orders have come to her in recent months after trips by the president abroad or after face-to-face meetings with leaders of other countries.

Such was the case in the case of last May's trip to the Middle East, from which Trump 'took home' An order from Qatar Airways for 130 Boeing 787s and 30 Boeing 777Xs., in addition to the order for  Twenty-eight 787s and 777Xs by Etihad. Just before Trump himself had 'scammed' IAG Group for an order for thirty-two 787-10s.