Turkish Airlines (TK) has been in talks with aircraft lessors to acquire between seven and ten A320s from the now-defunct Spirit Airlines (NK). Speaking to the Financial Times, Turkish Airlines’ chairman, Murat Şeker, confirmed the discussions, though talks have paused.
Slower Deliveries, Tactical Fleet Planning
Turkish Airlines is not the only interested buyer, with other carriers and lessors also reported to be eyeing the same assets. Spirit Airlines ceased operations on May 2, 2026, following its bankruptcy, leaving a pool of narrowbody aircraft available on the leasing market. Prior to its final collapse, the airline had already sought court approval in February 2026 to sell 20 aircraft for an estimated $533 million as part of efforts to reduce debt and wind down operations.
The interest in used aircraft comes as Turkish Airlines looks to expand its network despite a slower pace of new aircraft deliveries from manufacturers, largely driven by supply chain constraints globally.
According to ch-aviation data, Turkish Airlines currently operates a total of 482 aircraft, which includes 18 A320-200s, 23 A320-200Ns and 68 A321-200s, the same types that Spirit Airlines flew. On the widebody side, the airline expects to receive around 36 aircraft over the next four years, Şeker said.
Route Optimisation
Turkish Airlines has pulled back on 21 routes out of its 350 destinations, reflecting the pressure of rising fuel costs globally. Some routes are still being operated as they serve as feeders into the carrier’s Istanbul hub. Şeker told the Financial Times that the pandemic shaped this thinking, noting that drastic network cuts are far harder to recover from than measured ones.
“If you make a drastic cut in the network, we know it takes a much bigger effort to recover.”
Turkish Airlines is balancing network pressures on one side and fleet growth ambitions on the other, with the ex-Spirit aircraft representing a potential shortcut to capacity as the airline works towards its 1,000-aircraft target by 2036.
Will Turkish Airlines close the deal on the ex-Spirit fleet? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
