Saudi Arabian Airlines has put more than 40 of its aircraft up for sale including most of its older Boeing 747s and practically its entire Boeing MD-90 fleet.
The Jeddah-based flag-carrier is offering 28 MD-90s as well as nine 747-300s and five 747-100s. All the aircraft are owned by the airline.
Powered by International Aero Engines V2500 powerplants, the MD-90s are between seven and 10 years old. Saudi Arabian has configured them with 18 first-class and 103 economy-class seats.
Their offer for sale follows a tentative agreement, disclosed last month, to replace the twin-jets with up to 50 Airbus A320s.
Saudi Arabian is also putting 14 747 aircraft on the market.
The 424-seat 747-300s are around 21-22 years old while the 747-100s have 417 seats and are 25-26 years of age. Both types are configured in two classes and are fitted with Rolls-Royce RB211 engines.
Saudi Arabian has seven 747-100s but the five being offered are those which, by mid-2007, had most recently undergone D-checks.
Its remaining 747 fleet includes a 747-200 freighter, a 747SP and a small number of 747-400 passenger aircraft. The airline also leases a 747-400F and a pair of 747-300s.
Saudi Arabian, which is undergoing a slow privatisation process, has yet to detail whether it intends to replace the ageing 747-300s and -100s with other long-haul types. The Boeing 777-200ER forms the backbone of its long-haul operations.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
