Turkish Airlines has again shuffled its short-haul fleet expansion, with fewer Airbus A321neos arriving in 2020 and additional Boeing 737-800s being introduced.

Turkish Airlines has again shuffled its short-haul fleet expansion, with fewer Airbus A321neos arriving in 2020 and additional Boeing 737-800s being introduced.

The carrier’s fleet plan at the end of June indicated it would have 39 A321neos in 2020.

But the latest revision, for the third quarter, shows that this figure has been cut by nine to 30 aircraft. The A321neo fleet will realign with the earlier forecast in 2021 when it rises to 59.

Airbus has been struggling with A321neo deliveries as a result of industrial production obstacles. The carrier says it will receive 22 during 2019-20, rather than the 37 previously expected.

Turkish Airlines also shows a hike in the number of 737-800s in its 2020 fleet, to 88 aircraft from the previous figure of 75.

The changes increase the overall 2020 short-haul fleet from 274 to 278 aircraft.

Turkish Airlines’ figures indicated no change in the number of Boeing 737 Max 8s for 2020, a total of 38.

It had been intending to have a fleet of 19 Max jets this year but only has 11 as a result of the worldwide suspension of the type in March.

Turkish Airlines’ fleet in 2023 is set to reach 355, up from the level of 342 disclosed in its first-half results briefing.