Scandinavian Airlines' Danish division is expected to recommend that SAS Group takes Bombardier CRJ700 and CRJ900 regional jets as replacements for the Dash 8 Q400 turboprops being withdrawn by the company.
The recommendation is tipped to be submitted at a board meeting on 17 December during which SAS Group will begin the process of considering fleet-replacement options for its various carriers.
While SAS stresses that the board will only be presented with a first draft of the fleet plan, and no decision will be made, the Q400 replacement is a priority for the company. It declines to disclose any details about fleet options to be studied.
But the collective SAS Group Pilots Association, which brings together the pilot union boards of SAS Group's individual airlines, understands that the CRJ700/900 is the preferred option of Scandinavian Airlines' Danish division.
The Danish unit was the main user of the Q400 before SAS grounded the type in October following a series of landing incidents. It was operating around 13 of the type at the time of the withdrawal. SAS plans to sell its entire 27-strong Q400 fleet and says that it has received a "lot of interest" from potential buyers.
According to SAGPA president Capt Mogens Holgaard, the Q400s could be replaced by an equal number of CRJs. He adds that the switch from turboprop to jet would not prove problematic.
"We believe it fits in well [with the network]," he says. "The only route it doesn't fit is Copenhagen-London City."
He says the recommendation is likely to favour using Airbus A318 on the London City route. While SAS Group is an A320 family customer, it has not placed orders for the A318 version.
Speed advantages of jets would help offset longer turnaround times for the aircraft, says Holgaard, but he adds that the carrier will have to examine the production situation at Bombardier as there is a "long waiting list" for new-build CRJs.
It is unclear whether Scandinavian Airlines' Swedish division, which has around seven Q400s, is similarly inclined towards the CRJ.
Scandinavian Airlines is having to wet-lease other types from carriers both inside and outside SAS Group in order to cope with the capacity shortfall generated by grounding of the Q400s.
Source: Flight International
