Turkish Airlines (TK, Istanbul Airport) has clarified a stock exchange announcement made last week in which it said it had disposed of its sole VIP-configured A340-500, TC-CAN (msn 902).

In a follow-up comment, sources familiar with the airline's operations said TC-CAN had not been disposed of and that the "sale" was simply done for accounting purposes from the airline to the Turkish Government.

The A340-500 continues to be operated by Turkish Airlines General Aviation (TRK, Istanbul Atatürk) and is used extensively by Turkish president Recep Erdogan for his official foreign travels.