Order for 40 Boeing airplanes largest in Turkish carrier's history

Antalya, Turkey – Boeing and SunExpress have finalized an order for 15 737 MAX 8s and 25 Next-Generation 737-800 airplanes. The order, valued at more than $3.8 billion at list prices, also includes options for 10 additional 737 MAX 8s.

 

The order is the largest in the Turkish carrier's near 25 year history, and brings the total number of orders to date for the 737 MAX to nearly 1,800.

 

"Twenty-four years ago we started to fly tourists to Turkey with brand-new 737-300s and 10 years later the company began to operate the Next-Generation 737-800s. Next year at the age of 25, SunExpress will start the process of renewing its entire fleet and in the future add the latest achievement of Boeing, the 737 MAX," said Paul Schwaiger, managing director of SunExpress. 

 

The 737 MAX builds on the success of the Next-Generation 737 and incorporates the latest technology CFM International LEAP-1B engines with aerodynamic improvements such as new Advanced Technology winglets to deliver an estimated 14% fuel-efficiency improvement over today's most fuel efficient, single-aisle airplanes. At longer ranges, the improvement will be even greater, according to Boeing.

 

Standard on the MAX, the 737 Boeing Sky Interior features modern-sculpted sidewalls and appealing features that draw passenger eyes to the airplane's windows, giving passengers a greater connection to the flying experience.

 

"With our order of up to 50 new 737 aircraft – including the ten options – we have realized an important milestone for the future of SunExpress," said Haci Say, deputy managing director of SunExpress. "Our company has always been a vital part of the travel trade between Turkey and the source markets of Turkish tourism. With this enormous investment SunExpress underlines its strong position among Europe's leading holiday airlines. We are happy to grow even stronger with the help of new Boeing aircraft which perfectly suit our business model."

 

Based in Antalya on the Turkish Rivera, SunExpress was founded in October 1989 as a subsidiary of Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa. Today, SunExpress carries more than seven million passengers per year and is one of the leading airlines in terms of passenger numbers between Germany and Turkey. The carrier operates an all-Boeing fleet of more than 60 Next-Generation 737-700s and 737-800s and serves more than 90 destinations across Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.