Mystere IV A
January 28, 2003, 09:32 AM
Aer Lingus expects to complete its fleet restructuring review in April after which it aims to make a decision on short-haul fleet standardisation plans as soon as possible.
The Irish airline has been in preliminary discussions with manufacturers and lessors over plans to reduce the number of aircraft types in its short-haul fleet so it can cut costs. It plans to standardise to one narrowbody family, based on either Boeing or Airbus aircraft.
Aer Lingus currently operates a fleet of six Airbus A321s, four A320s, two Boeing 737-400s, eight 737-500s and six BAE Systems BAe 146-300s. Additionally, it has third 737-400 subleased until April as well as orders for four A319s that were deferred until 2005 because of market conditions. The future of the A319 order is under evaluation in the scope of the review.
An airline spokesman says: "We are conducting the internal review and after that step we will invite the companies to make proposals. Discussions have gone on with both these manufacturers - Airbus and Boeing - and we have also had discussions with leasing companies."
He adds that the company has not set a time scale for when it wants to take delivery of the new aircraft. However it is keen to finalise the deal as soon as possible so it can take advantage of current market conditions on orders from manufacturers and the lessors.
The spokesman says that the airline is only looking to replace the existing fleet of aircraft, but at the same time it is considering increasing capacity and "looking overall at bigger aircraft". It is considering smaller members of the two families as a replacement for its 110-seat BAe 146s.
The airline hopes to be able to strike a deal with the manufacturer or lessor to take any replaced aircraft off its hands.
Aer Lingus' fleet consists of a combination of owned and leased aircraft. The airline owns a majority of its Airbus narrowbodies expect for three that are on lease from US lessor International Lease Finance (ILFC) according to Airclaims data. Its fleet of 737s is predominately owned aircraft with a few on lease.
Running alongside the airline's own internal cost cutting plans are talks with the Irish Government over privatising the state owned carrier. The Government had indicated that it would consider its options in early 2003. The airline's spokesman stresses: "Either way, we are going ahead with the [fleet replacement] process."
Fly High :windsock:
:pilot_2:
The Irish airline has been in preliminary discussions with manufacturers and lessors over plans to reduce the number of aircraft types in its short-haul fleet so it can cut costs. It plans to standardise to one narrowbody family, based on either Boeing or Airbus aircraft.
Aer Lingus currently operates a fleet of six Airbus A321s, four A320s, two Boeing 737-400s, eight 737-500s and six BAE Systems BAe 146-300s. Additionally, it has third 737-400 subleased until April as well as orders for four A319s that were deferred until 2005 because of market conditions. The future of the A319 order is under evaluation in the scope of the review.
An airline spokesman says: "We are conducting the internal review and after that step we will invite the companies to make proposals. Discussions have gone on with both these manufacturers - Airbus and Boeing - and we have also had discussions with leasing companies."
He adds that the company has not set a time scale for when it wants to take delivery of the new aircraft. However it is keen to finalise the deal as soon as possible so it can take advantage of current market conditions on orders from manufacturers and the lessors.
The spokesman says that the airline is only looking to replace the existing fleet of aircraft, but at the same time it is considering increasing capacity and "looking overall at bigger aircraft". It is considering smaller members of the two families as a replacement for its 110-seat BAe 146s.
The airline hopes to be able to strike a deal with the manufacturer or lessor to take any replaced aircraft off its hands.
Aer Lingus' fleet consists of a combination of owned and leased aircraft. The airline owns a majority of its Airbus narrowbodies expect for three that are on lease from US lessor International Lease Finance (ILFC) according to Airclaims data. Its fleet of 737s is predominately owned aircraft with a few on lease.
Running alongside the airline's own internal cost cutting plans are talks with the Irish Government over privatising the state owned carrier. The Government had indicated that it would consider its options in early 2003. The airline's spokesman stresses: "Either way, we are going ahead with the [fleet replacement] process."
Fly High :windsock:
:pilot_2: