SAS has decided to order 50 Airbus A320neo aircraft with deliveries from spring 2019 to 2023.
This is stated in a press release.
According to what Svenska Dagbladet reported in January, SAS was negotiating with Airbus for 50-60 new aircraft for around 55 billion kronor before discounts. No purchase price was specified in Tuesday's press release, but a list price of just under 4 billion dollars (33.5 billion kronor) for 35 of the planes now ordered is mentioned.
SAS has 17 Airbus A320neo in service from a previous order for 30 such aircraft. The new order will allow SAS to create a unified fleet and have at least 80 Airbus A320neo in service by 2023.
The order for 50 Airbus A320neo aircraft is divided into two parts. The first 15, with delivery from spring 2019 to 2021, have been secured through letters of intent with lessors. The remaining 35 aircraft will be delivered directly from Airbus until 2023.
The aircraft order also includes options for five additional aircraft of the same type. In addition, SAS has the opportunity to increase the number of aircraft that can be leased from leasing companies. Together with existing aircraft, this creates flexibility for growth under the right conditions.
”"Recent years of investments in the customer offering and efficiency improvements have contributed to SAS's improved profitability and made today's order possible," SAS writes.
The airline is working on efficiency improvements worth SEK 3 billion by 2020.
”"Even after 2020, SAS must continue to streamline operations and through the renewal of the aircraft fleet and the introduction of a unified fleet, SAS can further streamline the operational platform," SAS writes.
The aircraft will be financed through a combination of finance leases, sale/leaseback and self-generated cash flow. All aircraft will be equipped with SAS high-speed Wifi and feature SAS's new cabin interior.
The list price of the 35 Airbus A320neo aircraft including engines ordered from Airbus amounts to just under $4 billion, before discounts agreed between SAS and Airbus. The additional 15 Airbus A320neo are leased from leasing companies. The order from Airbus is placed by SAS through its wholly owned subsidiary Gorm Asset Management.
SAS has not yet chosen which engine will be used on these aircraft, it says.
Source: Nyhetsbyrån Direkt
