Turkish Airlines has awarded training specialist CAE Inc. a multi-year contract for a suite of next-generation full-flight simulators and flight-training devices, announced on the opening day of the 2026 Farnborough International Airshow on 20 July. The deal is a fresh vote of confidence in CAE from one of the world's fastest-growing widebody operators.
What the Star Alliance carrier is buying
Under the agreement, CAE will deliver five CAE 7000XR Series Level D full-flight simulators — one for the Airbus A350, two for the A321neo and a pair for the Boeing 787 — plus two A350 Level 1 flight-training devices. All seven devices are due for delivery by 2029, and the contract includes options for two more simulators covering the A350 and 787.
The deal builds on a partnership that began in 1997 and covers the exact fleet types Turkish Airlines is inducting fastest as it expands long-haul services from its Istanbul hub, where the airline already operates one of Europe's largest in-house Flight Training Centers.
Why this matters for pilot training capacity
Pilot supply is the constraint most airlines now name first when they discuss growth. Turkish Airlines chair Murat Seker said the new devices “will enhance our ability to prepare pilots across multiple fleet types with the highest levels of safety, consistency and operational excellence,” while CAE chief executive Matthew Bromberg framed the contract as “a testament to our long-standing relationship” with the carrier.
Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 type ratings are among the most in-demand widebody courses in the world, and Level D FFS capacity has become a bottleneck for airlines running fleet renewal programmes. Adding two 787 FFSs alongside three Airbus simulators lets Turkish Airlines qualify both narrowbody and long-haul crews without renting slots from third-party training centres.
Farnborough training deals continue to stack up
The Turkish Airlines announcement is one of several equipment and services deals unveiled during a busy day-one at Farnborough. Airbus and Boeing also spent the day chasing narrowbody orders, with SMBC Aviation Capital's 100-jet campaign and IndiGo's record LEAP-1A engine deal setting the pace. Honeywell separately won its largest-ever new-aircraft equipment selection from IndiGo for avionics and APUs across 810 Airbus A320neo family aircraft.
Turkish Airlines has been building out training infrastructure for years, and the CAE order fits into a broader capacity push that started with the airline's expansion at Istanbul Airport. New simulator hangars at the training centre are scheduled to open in 2027, with the full complex fully operational in 2028 — comfortably ahead of the 2029 CAE delivery deadline.
Reporting based on coverage from FlightGlobal, Aviation Week, CAE and Turkish Airlines statements at Farnborough 2026.