AirTran Airways announced today it will be slowing its fleet growth by deferring delivery of nine Boeing 737-700s but has agreed to lease two additional Boeing 717s.
The Orlando-based low-cost carrier says in its second quarter earnings release that it deferred nine 737-700s that would originally have been delivered between 2011 and 2014 to between 2015 and 2017. The carrier, however, has added to its 2011 fleet plan two additional 717s.
AirTran CFO Arne Haak tells ATI that the carrier had been planning to increase its 737-700 fleet by 15 aircraft over the next two years, with seven aircraft arriving in 2011 and eight aircraft in 2012. He says AirTran is now planning to accept 12 new aircraft during this time period, including 10 737-700s and two 717s.
Six of these aircraft - four 737-700s and two 717s - will be added in 2011. Another six 737-700s will be delivered in 2012.
Haak says the 717s are being sourced from Boeing Capital. AirTran has signed 10-year leases for both aircraft.
According to Flightglobal's ACAS database, AirTran currently operates 86 717s and 52 737-700s.
AirTran has deferred deliveries of 737-700s several times in recent years in an effort to curb growth. In 2008 it pushed back 36 737-700 deliveries originally scheduled for between 2009 and 2011.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
