Fleet
Croatia Picks A220
- Another win in the small mainline narrowbody market for Airbus. Croatia Airlines will simplify its fleet with the A220 over the next four years with an initial order for six aircraft. The carrier operates 13 aircraft, including seven A319s and A320s, and six De Havilland Dash 8-400s, according to its website. All of those aircraft will be replaced by A220s by 2026. Croatia will join AirBaltic among all-A220 operators in Europe; Air France, ITA Airways, and Swiss Air also operate or have committed to the type.
- Oman-based SalamAir has ordered six firm Embraer E195-E2s plus six options. Deliveries will begin in late 2023. SalamAir operates an all-Airbus A320neo family fleet currently.
- SAS has made progress with lessors on new terms for its fleet. The airline, which is restructuring under U.S. Chapter 11 bankruptcy, has amended agreements with 10 lessors on 36 aircraft, including 33 narrowbodies and three widebodies. AerCap was one of the lessors who agreed to new terms for six A320s it has at SAS. The carrier aims to cut its annual fleet expenses by 850 million to 1 billion Swedish kroner ($78-91 million) through its restructuring. As recently as August, CEO Anko Van der Werff named lessors as being a key sticking point in SAS’s restructuring.