Turkish Airlines has finalized a firm order for 25 Boeing 787-9s with options for five additional airplanes.

Turkish Airlines becomes the 71^st customer to buy the 787.

“We are pleased to finalize a landmark agreement that will bring significant benefit to Turkish Airlines and Turkey’s aviation industry,” said M. İlker Aycı, chairman of the board and the executive committee at Turkish Airlines. “This firm order adds the 787 Dreamliner, one of the world’s most state-of-the-art airplanes, to our ever-expanding fleet in 2023, our republic’s 100^th year. The 787 will significantly raise our passengers’ satisfaction and play an important role in our plans for our new hub, the new Istanbul airport. This will accelerate the steady rise of our country’s flag carrier and support the growth of Turkish civil aviation.”

Turkish Airlines currently operates a fleet which includes 737s, 777-300ERs and 777Fs.

“We are proud to extend our decades-long partnership with Turkish Airlines and we welcome them to the growing group of elite airlines who have made the 787 Dreamliner the most preferred mid-sized twin-aisle airplane today,” said Kevin McAllister, president and chief executive officer of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “We are confident that Turkish Airlines will enjoy the Dreamliner’s unmatched fuel efficiency, range and superior cabin features.”

With this firm order, which was first announced as a commitment for 20 787-9s plus 20 options in September 2017, Boeing has now received firm orders for more than 1,300 787 aircraft.

Turkish Airlines has also signed a memorandum of understanding to acquire 25 Airbus A350-900s, with options for five more.

“This significant order will continue to enable our flag carrier to further compete, expand and reach new short- and long-range destinations nonstop from our hubs in Istanbul and Ankara,” said Aycı. “As Turkish Airlines, we are committed to offering our passengers on every route the best flying experience possible and we order on that promise as the Airbus A350 XWB provides comfort and convenience in spacious cabins, all matched with seamless reliability.”

The airline already operates 167 Airbus aircraft including A319s, A320s, A321s, A330s and A340-300s, and has 92 A321neos on order.

“We are extremely proud at Airbus to count Turkish Airlines as a new A350 operator, the world’s most modern and efficient widebody aircraft.” said Eric Schulz, chief commercial officer of Airbus. “This order strengthens and expands the long-lasting partnership between Airbus, Turkish Airlines and Turkey overall.”

Turkey has been an integral part of the Airbus supply chain for almost 20 years and is a partner on all Airbus aircraft programmes, including the A350 XWB.

At the end of February 2018, Airbus had recorded a total of 854 firm orders for the A350 XWB from 45 customers worldwide.