Turkish Airlines in talks with MAS to lease aircraft

PETALING JAYA: Turkish Airlines is in early stages of talks with Malaysian Airline Systems Bhd (MAS) over leasing aircraft from the troubled carrier, Reuters reported yesterday.
It quoted chairman Hamdi Topcu as saying that Turkish Airlines will need larger Boeing 747-8 and Airbus A380 aircraft in the future but no management decision had yet been taken.
A senior executive at the airline said in January that it was considering expanding its fleet and was studying a list of Boeing and Airbus models including the double-decker A380, Reuters reported.
MAS is currently undergoing a restructuring exercise which will see it shed at least 6,000 employees, and set up a new company in bid to cut away from legacy issues such as lopsided supplier contracts. It will see the entry of Christoph Mueller as CEO of the new company to be set up by July this year.