SAS Group is considering the Airbus A320neo as part of the fleet-renewal programme outlined today for its three Scandinavian bases.
The group is to take more A320s after choosing to withdraw 17 Boeing MD-80 aircraft at Copenhagen, where its stationed fleet of 29 jets already includes 12 A320s.
SAS Group's investor relations head, Sture Stolen, says that while there is no final decision on the additional number of A320s to be acquired, the figure will be comparable to the current MD-80 fleet in the Danish capital.
He also points out that the timing of the renewal does not rule out the A320neo as a possible option for part of the acquisition. "We're still open on that," he says.
But with SAS Group opting tentatively to take 17 Boeing 737-700/800s to replace another nine MD-80s and 11 older 737s at its Oslo and Stockholm bases, Stolen says the Bombardier CSeries is "not a possibility" under the current plan.
SAS Group had been considering the CSeries as an alternative to re-engined aircraft options from Airbus and Boeing as it looked to succeed the MD-80s around 2014-15.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
