Turkish Airlines has agreed to lease two Boeing 777-300ERSF converted freighters from AerCap, the Ireland-based lessor, with both aircraft scheduled to enter service between March and September 2027, according to FlightGlobal.
Turkish Airlines becomes an early operator of a type that carries real significance in the industry. The 777-300ERSF holds the distinction of being the first conversion programme to take a Boeing 777-300ER from passenger service into freighter configuration.
A Conversion Programme With Distinctive Roots
Israel Aerospace Industries partnered on the development of the 777-300ERSF programme, which got under way in 2025. Etihad Engineering in Abu Dhabi will carry out the conversions on the two aircraft covered by the agreement, as both FlightGlobal and Aviation Week report.
Etihad Engineering's role positions Abu Dhabi as the conversion hub for these specific airframes, with delivery windows spread across the middle of 2027 to allow for the work involved.
Building on an Established Relationship With AerCap
This agreement is the latest in a series of deals between Turkish Airlines and AerCap. The carrier previously leased 28 Boeing jets from the Irish lessor in 2023, then followed that with 10 Airbus A321neos in 2024, according to FlightGlobal.
Peter Anderson, AerCap's chief commercial officer, said: "We are delighted to continue supporting our long-standing partner, Turkish Airlines, with the addition of two Boeing 777-300ERSF aircraft to its fleet."
The phrasing reflects a commercial relationship that has deepened steadily over three years and now extends into freighter conversions, a segment that several carriers have moved into as cargo demand has grown.
What It Means for Turkish Airlines' Cargo Operation
Turkish Airlines' home base at Istanbul Airport, one of the busiest hubs in Europe and beyond, gives the carrier strong connectivity for cargo routing across multiple continents. Our own Istanbul Airport guide sets out how the airport functions as a transfer point between Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas, which is precisely the kind of network that a widebody freighter is built to serve.
Adding converted 777-300ERSFs, rather than purpose-built freighters, reflects a practical path to expanding cargo capacity without the lead times associated with new production slots. The conversion route also gives the airline access to a widebody platform at a point when 777F production availability is limited.
Readers wanting to explore Turkish Airlines' wider fleet can use our Aircraft Search to look up the types currently in service.
The Bottom Line
Two aircraft across a six-month delivery window is a measured expansion rather than a dramatic one, but the 777-300ERSF's status as a first-of-type conversion gives the deal a wider relevance for the industry. Turkish Airlines becomes part of the programme's early commercial footprint, and AerCap secures another placement for a converted widebody as the freighter market continues to absorb converted passenger aircraft.
The delivery schedule runs through to September 2027, so the picture will develop over the coming months as the Etihad Engineering conversion slots progress.
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