SEATTLE, Jan. 28, 2016 – Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Turkish Airlines (THY), building on their 70-year relationship, today signed a collaboration agreement that will strengthen Turkish Airlines’ long-term industry leadership, as well as Turkey’s aerospace and technology capabilities.

In the agreement, Turkish Airlines and Boeing identified several potential areas of new cooperation, expanding on Boeing’s already-significant investment with Turkish industry.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Ray Conner and Turkish Airlines Chairman Ilker Ayci signed the Strategic Alliance Agreement during a visit by the airline’s executives to Seattle for the delivery of their new Boeing 777-300ER (Extended Range).

“Turkish Airlines is one of the world’s leading carriers that established its position through strategic investment in its fleet, product and network resulting in impressive passenger growth figures,” said Ayci. “With today’s signing we deepen our relationship with one of the leading brands in the aerospace industry, our long-term partner Boeing, and continue to seek new, innovative ways to grow the airline. We look forward to continuing this strong relationship with Boeing and announcing the various projects that the companies will agree to collaborate on in the future.”

      “Boeing is proud to further our strong, committed relationship with Turkish Airlines in ways that support both companies’ profitable growth and Turkey’s long-term development,” said Conner. “Together, Boeing and Turkish Airlines will identify and develop new, mutually beneficial business opportunities that build on and complement our mutual strengths.”

      Suppliers across Turkey currently support all five current Boeing Commercial Airplanes programs, delivering Turkish-made components valued at more than $120 million annually.

Building on these strong industrial ties, the new agreement between Boeing and Turkish Airlines identified several additional areas of long-term cooperation. They include development and training, activities to enable the global competitiveness of Turkey’s aviation manufacturers, and support for Turkey’s research and technology capabilities and  aerospace infrastructure.

 Turkish Airlines and Boeing share a long history that goes back to 1945, with the arrival of the airline’s first DC-3/C-47 airliners. Turkish Airlines entered the jet age in the late 1960s, when the airline began operating DC-9, DC-10 and Boeing 707 airplanes.

Over the years, Turkish carriers have also flown the Boeing 727, 757, MD-80 and the most modern 737 and 777 airplanes. Turkish Technic, a subsidiary of the airline, is a world-class maintenance center for Boeing 737 airplanes, with certifications from regulatory authorities throughout the region and beyond.

 Boeing has maintained a long-standing and mutually beneficial relationship with Turkey since the mid-1940s. In addition to providing commercial jetliners, Boeing is a supplier of defense products to the Turkish armed forces and a significant and trusted partner of the Turkish aerospace industry.