Maersk Air is studying a two pronged fleet expansion programme which could see the Danish private airline acquire 150-seaters and a fleet of large regional jets.
The Copenhagen-based carrier operates four Bombardier CRJ200s and 18 Boeing 737s, 10 -500s and eight -700s. Its network comprises domestic and international services within western Europe, and has recently been expanded into the eastern Mediterranean with new services to Istanbul and Cairo.
"We are planning to phase out our 737-500s and are considering our options," says Maersk's vice president scheduled services Keld Mosgaard Christensen. "We are looking at aircraft bigger than the 737-700 and regional types larger than the [50-seat] CRJs," he says.
With the airline already operating a large 737 fleet, the 737-800 would appear to be the front runner, although Christensen says that the A320 is also being studied. Similarly, the airline is already a CRJ operator, and hold orders for five 70-seat CRJ700s for its UK-based British Airways franchise division, but Christensen says that it is studying the rival offerings from Embraer and Fairchild Dornier.
Source: Flight International
