More 737NG's for SAS Group

SAS Group said Monday it will lease five new 737-800NGs from GECAS and signed an MOU to lease a further 12 737-700s from the same company as it phases out its remaining nine MD-80s and 11 737 Classics at its Stockholm and Oslo hubs, where it also operates 67 737NGs.


SAS additionally said it will retire its 17 MD-80s at Copenhagen, replacing them with Airbus A320s. SAS already bases 12 A320s at COP. The replacement will begin in 2012 and is expected to be completed by 2016, it noted.


According to SAS, the lease arrangements mean that “there will be limited aircraft investments” this year. President and CEO Rickard Gustafson said the fleet renewal “will reduce complexity and improve out environmental performance.”

(Linda Blachly - ATWOnline News)