Turkish Airlines to buy 20 airbus passenger planes

The air carrier said it also placed an optional order for the purchase of 10 Airbus A319/A321 passenger planes.

Fourteen A321-200s and six A319-100s are expected to be delivered to the THY in 2011 and 2012 as A319/A321s are scheduled for 2013.

The value of the orders was not immediately available.

THY is one of the fastest growing carriers in Europe. The Istanbul-based airline is using Istanbul's Ataturk Airport as a hub for flights to Europe, Asia and Africa in partnership with the Star Alliance group of airlines. Passengers at THY grew 10.1 percent to 18.6 million in the first nine months of 2009.

/World Bulletin/