Russian flag-carrier Aeroflot is to consider adjusting details of its Airbus A350 order, although the airline has not disclosed the nature of any amendments.
It discussed its fleet modernisation during a regular board meeting at the end of August, which included the lease of 50 Boeing 737-800s and -900ERs and a batch of Airbus A320s.
But the board also considered “changes in the material terms” of its purchase of 22 A350s.
Aeroflot has not indicated the extent or the nature of these changes.
Its order includes 18 of the shorter A350-800 variant, and Aeroflot is one of the few remaining customers for the type.
The -800 has not secured an order for over four years and its backlog has depleted as customers migrate to the larger -900. Aeroflot’s other four A350s are all -900s.
Aeroflot says it will discuss further the fleet issues at a shareholders’ meeting in mid-October.
It is advancing its plans for a low-cost carrier which, the airline says, will “substantially increase” the availability of air transport in Russia. Aeroflot will allocate funds from its 2013 and 2014 budgets to establish the operation.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
