By Aditi Shah

DUBAI, June 4 (Reuters) - Turkish Airlines is advancing

talks with Boeing ( BA ) for 150 737 MAX narrow-body jets and 75

widebody 787 planes, but a final decision hinges on engine price

negotiations, Chairman Ahmet Bolat said on Tuesday.

In April, the carrier said it was negotiating

with both Airbus and Boeing ( BA ) to buy 235 aircraft as part

of its expansion plans, after placing an order for 355 jets with

the European planemaker in December.

Bolat said talks are advancing with Boeing ( BA ), even as Airbus

remains in the race, but a final decision will depend on better

pricing for CFM's LEAP engines, the sole provider for the 737

MAX planes.

"We could announce the Boeing ( BA ) order earlier but there is an

engine issue. A decision depends on CFM's prices and that is why

it will take a little longer," Bolat said, speaking on the

sidelines of the International Air Transport Association's

(IATA) annual meet in Dubai.

Bolat said the airline has made a counter proposal to CFM, a

joint venture between GE and France's Safran,

and is waiting to hear back.

The talks with Boeing ( BA ) come when the manufacturer is engulfed

in a sprawling safety crisis made worse by a January mid-air

panel blowout on a near-new 737 MAX plane.

Boeing ( BA ) is facing investigations by U.S. regulators, possible

prosecution for past actions and slumping production of its

strongest-selling 737 MAX jet.

Bolat, however, said he was confident Boeing ( BA ) will solve its

problems, and that the planemaker was taking "strong steps and

measures".

He said Turkish placed the 355-planes order with Airbus

because it wanted to secure the fast-filling slots, and while it

was still talking to the European planemaker for the new order,

he wants to work with both manufacturers.

"We want to mitigate the risks, reduce the risks by using

both products available in the market," he said.

(Reporting by Aditi Shah; editing by Jason Neely and Sriraj

Kalluvila)