SAS has earlier communicated the decision to phase out the MD80 and Boeing 737 Classic on the bases in Stockholm and Oslo and replace them with Boeing 737 NGs. As a consequence SAS has signed an agreement to lease in five new 737-800 NG from GECAS and signed a memorandum of understanding for the lease of 12 737- 700′s from GECAS. The lease arrangements implicate that there will be limited aircraft investments (CAPEX) in 2011.
SAS has today 87 short haul jet on the bases in Oslo and Stockholm, 67 Boeing 737NG, 11 Boeing 737 Classic and nine MD80s. In line with SAS strategy to streamline its fleet, a decision has been made to also phase out MD80 in its Copenhagen base and replace it with Airbus A320. The replacement will start in 2012 and is expected to be completed by 2016. SAS today operates 29 Short haul jets in Copenhagen, 12 A320 and 17 MD80s.
SAS president & CEO Rickard Gustafson says. "We are very pleased that we now can continue the process of renewing our fleet. This will reduce complexity and improve our environmental performance.