*

Turkish Airlines signalled 150 737 MAX planes order in

September

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Bolat says will finalise 'deal or no deal' after imminent

talks

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Engine maintenance centre investment in Turkey under

discussion

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Turkish Airlines looking into opportunities in Asia,

America

(Adds quotes, details, background)

By Ebru Tuncay

ISTANBUL, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Turkish Airlines will meet

with Boeing ( BA ) and engine supplier CFM in the coming weeks to

decide on a planned deal for a major 737 MAX jet order, Chairman

Ahmet Bolat said on Wednesday.

Turkish Airlines

said in September

that it would order 75 Boeing 787 aircraft and had

completed negotiations to buy 150 737 MAX planes, subject to

engine talks, in a long-awaited deal coinciding with a meeting

between the two countries' leaders.

Bolat then said last month

that Turkish Airlines could switch the 737 order to rival

Airbus if talks with CFM failed to make progress.

"Those talks are ongoing. We'll probably have Boeing ( BA ) and the

engine manufacturer sitting down together in a few weeks. We'll

ask, 'Are you in or out?' If not, we'll turn another page,"

Bolat said in an interview.

Bolat said details on a possible investment to set up an

engine maintenance centre in Turkey were also being discussed as

part of the negotiations.

Transatlantic venture CFM International, co-owned by GE

Aerospace and Safran, is the sole engine supplier for the Boeing

737 MAX and competes with RTX unit Pratt & Whitney for

airline contracts for the Airbus A320neo family.

A spate of engine shortages and growing maintenance

delays has driven up engine parts prices and led to growing

discord between suppliers and airlines across the industry.

Airlines globally have voiced frustration over the

disruption, including Turkish Airlines, which is facing delays

linked to Pratt & Whitney engines on its existing Airbus fleet.

Bolat also said that Turkish Airlines' minority stake

purchase in Spain's Air Europa is almost complete, adding that

the flag carrier is looking into opportunities in Asia, North

and South America as well as other regions.

"Of course, could we have such a partner in Asia? We're

working on this through a joint venture or share acquisition.

Our discussions in Asia are ongoing," Bolat said.

Earlier this year, Turkish Airlines agreed to invest 300

million euros in convertible debt, equivalent to a stake of

25-27% in

Air Europa

, outlasting European rivals Lufthansa and Air

France-KLM.