Finnair has delayed the decision on its short-haul fleet revamp as it weighs up proposals for the acquisition of 100-seat aircraft and large regional jets. It has also broadened a study to evaluate other options such as the acquisition of secondhand aircraft or the retention of its Boeing MD-80s.
The Finnish flag carrier has been conducting a review of its short-haul aircraft requirements since March with a need for regional jets and a replacement for eight McDonnell Douglas DC-9-50s and 16 Boeing MD-82/83s. It had been due to make a decision by the end of this year, but this is now not likely to be presented to the board for approval until at least the end of the first quarter, says Colin Molloy, Finnair assistant vice-president for aircraft trading. Final approval would follow within three months.
"The [100-seat] Airbus A318 and Boeing 717, and the [70-seat] Embraer 170 are the new aircraft under consideration," says Molloy. The airline has a requirement for 15-20 100-seaters and an unspecified number of 70-seaters. However, Molloy says interim measures are also being considered, such as the lease of cheap Fokker 100s. "In the current trading conditions, even retaining the MD-80s for a few more years" is now being reconsidered, he adds.
The new fleet plan will have an effect on the size of the carrier's fleet of nine ATR 72 turboprops. It says that while it is unlikely to completely dispose of its turboprops, the number operated will be driven by the size of the regional jet order. The 70-seat jet deal will in turn be affected by the number of 100-seaters ordered, it adds. The airline's 70-seat requirement also depends on what happens with its relations with its regional partners, such as Sweden's Golden Air which operates various turboprops including Saab 340s and 2000s.
The A318 is seen as a front-runner, with the airline already operating 17 CFM International CFM56-powered A320 family aircraft and holding orders for nine more. However, Molloy insists that all options are being "seriously considered" and adds that Airbus is "the only supplier unwilling to accept the concept" of combining Finnair's requirement into a joint deal with other Oneworld alliance partners such as British Airways, Iberia and Qantas.
Source: Flight International
