German carrier Air Berlin is to reduce its long-haul fleet from 14 aircraft to 10 in the next two years as part of its fleet restructuring programme.
The airline plans to introduce 22 aircraft in 2010, comprising 13 Airbus A320-family jets and nine Boeing 737s.
Eighteen of the aircraft will be off-balance sheet, says the carrier, with the other four on.
"In the last half-year especially, leasing companies have come back to the table," it states. "The lease market is back into normal working mode."
It will withdraw three Boeing 767 and 757 aircraft, as well as 10 737s and four A320s, leaving a "modest" net increase of five aircraft, taking its fleet to 157.
Air Berlin plans to increase the fleet to 166 next year and 179 in 2012, although it says it has "certain flexibility" to adjust to capacity by around five aircraft either way if required.
Around 65% of the aircraft arriving in the next two years are replacing expiring leases, says the carrier.
Air Berlin, which has already cut back an order for Boeing 787s, will reduce the number of long-haul aircraft to 10 by 2012. It says this is "in line with strategic focusing on profitable long-haul business".
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
