Turkish Airlines evaluates Boeing 777X performance as it plans to add more ultra-long-haul routes

Turkish Airlines is assessing a potential order for Boeing 777X jets as it eyes ultra-long-haul routes, its chairman said.

Turk Hava Yollari AO, as the airline is known, is studying the latest generation wide-body jet’s performance, Ilker Ayci said on the sidelines of an airlines meeting in Sydney last week.

“We’re still making our calculations and working very closely with the OEMs [original equipment manufacturers] on the feasibility of the new generation aircraft for the ultra-overseas,” Mr Ayci said. “After we’ve seen the clear feasibility of that aircraft’s performance, we’ll make our decision.”

Last Friday, the carrier’s shares closed 11 per cent lower, the biggest fall in nearly two years as it reported May passenger figures that reflected a slowdown in demand.

Last month, the airline carried 6.1 million passengers, a rise of 3.6 per cent, but the increase was less than a quarter of April’s 15 per cent boost.

Following the feasibility study, the airline may look into a “trial” order to try out the aircraft within its fleet before potentially making the “main” order, Mr Ayci said.

He did not provide a timeline for the conclusion of the assessment.

Turkish Airlines would use the aircraft to boost ultra-long-haul destinations, he said, without specifying potential routes.

“Turkish Airlines right now is very equally balanced in terms of destination allocation,” the chairman said.

“We are thinking of increasing frequencies – its more important right now than

opening new destinations.” The Star Alliance airline has already signed deals for 25 A350 and 25 787-9 wide-body aircraft in March, including options for five jets of each type, with deliveries to begin next year.

Rising oil prices will be the biggest pressure on the airline’s costs this year, and it is “very carefully” following the changes in jet fuel prices. “We have our own policies to manage that risk, but that’s a pressure on cost for everyone – for every carrier that’s a risk, a challenge,” he said.

Iata predicted global airlines’ profits will drop 12 per cent this year on rising fuel and labour costs.