Turkish Airlines has signed a contract for the purchase of three additional Airbus A330-300 aircraft, bringing the total number of A330-300s ordered by the company to ten. The carrier will operate the aircraft in a two-class configuration and with a capacity of 319 seats on its high capacity medium haul network. The aircraft, due for delivery from September 2010, will be powered by Rolls-Royce engines. With the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding, Turkish Airlines also plans to acquire two Freighter versions of the A330-200, the A330-200F, in order to prepare future expansion and renew its current fleet composed of four A310s.

“Turkish Airlines stays in the course of growing by providing the best service for its passengers and customers while optimising operating costs. By choosing the A330s Family aircraft that offer best-in-class comfort for passengers and extended cargo capacity for customers we are aiming to ensure the success of our business model,” said Dr Candan Karlitekin, Chairman of Turkish Airlines.

“The unbeatable economic efficiency of the A330 Family and its superior operational performance will be strategic assets for Turkish Airlines. We are proud to be a partner of one of the fastest growing European airlines, Turkish Airlines, as they expand into new markets,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers.

Turkish Airlines has operated Airbus aircraft since 1985, and currently has a fleet of 67 Airbus aircraft, including four A310s, 47 A320 family aircraft, seven A330s and nine A340s.

The twin engine A330 is one of the most widely used wide-body aircraft in service today. Airbus has won more than 1,000 orders for the aircraft and more than 600 A330s are in operation worldwide with more than 80 customers and operators. The combined fleet has achieved almost 14 million flight hours and serves around 300 destinations worldwide.