Turkish Air Contemplating Double Decker Aircraft Purchase

Turkish Airlines, Europe's fourth largest carrier does not have enough aeroplanes to meet its expansion plans, the airline's Chairman Hamdi Topcu told the Star Newspaper last week. To determine the next course of action, the airline is conducting feasibility studies on double-deck aircraft, including the Airbus A380 and soon-to-be-released Boeing 747-8.

The Airbus A380 is a wide-body, double-deck, four-engine airline made by Airbus Corporation. Currently, it is the largest aeroplane in the world, providing 49 percent more floor space than the next largest aircraft, the Boeing 747-400.

The Boeing 747-8 is the wide-bodied, double-deck commercial aircraft currently being developed by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It represents the fourth generation of Boeing 747s, with longer fuselage, re-designed wings, and improved efficiency ratings. The 747-8 is the largest aircraft to be built in the USA and will be the longest passenger aircraft in the world. When fully released for flight duty, the Boeing 747-8 will serve as direct competition to the Airbus A380. Currently, the aircraft is being considered for use as a South Korean presidential aircraft and there is report that a proposal is being explored to consider the 747-8 as the next Air Force One.

Turkish Airlines currently has a fleet of 142 aeroplanes. The 2011 target is 184. So far, an order for 89 planes has been placed, including 24 wide body aircraft designed for long-haul flights.

Turkish Airlines is a member of Star Alliance and offers UK travellers direct flights to Istanbul.