Airline acquires two Boeing 737 aircraft

ISTANBUL - Anatolia News Agency

The new Boeing 737 planes acquired by Turkish Airlines will fly long distance. AA photo

Turkey’s national carrier Turkish Airlines has purchased two new B737-900 ER passenger aircraft, bringing the total number of aircraft to 179.

The two new planes are designed to carry 150 passengers as opposed to 200, giving passengers more legroom.

“These planes will fly to many destinations in Africa and Asia where we have not yet reached, as they are capable of flying long distances,” Turkish Airlines’ Executive Board President Hamdi Topçu told reporters in Istanbul. The planes will be used to fly to Lagos, Tanzania and India, reported Anatolia news agency.

Turkish Airlines carried 30 million passengers in the first 11 months of 2011. According to the company, the number of passengers carried rose by 11.7 percent to 30 million year-on-year in the period between January and November 2011. Turkish Airlines flies to 146 international and 41 domestic cities.