newstodate.aero
Mar 8, 2007 (newstodate): Finnair has accelerated its ambitious fleet renewal program by ordering more Airbus aircraft.
In 2005 the carrier announced its decision to acquire 12 Airbus wide-body aircraft, including nine A350-900 and three A340-300 aircraft, with options for another four A350 and an unannounced number of A340 options.
Finnair has now decided to exercise all A350 options as well as ordering a further two, bringing the number of A350XWB ordered to 15, with first deliveries slated for 2014.
Beyond the Airbus A330/340 orders in 2005, including utilisation of its options, the carrier has also ordered a further seven A340/A330 aircraft to be delivered from now to 2010.
The MD-11, earlier planned to be withdrawn from 2012, will thus be retired from Finnair's fleet during 2008-10 already.
After this, the airlines long-haul fleet will consist only of A340 and A330 aircraft which unifies the long-haul fleet with the European fleet of A320 family aircraft offering benefits like certification of cockpit crews to operate all airport types.
The accelerated fleet renewal plan will also significantly increase the cargo capacity on the carrier's Asian routes that drive the company's remarkable cargo growth.
In 2005 the carrier announced its decision to acquire 12 Airbus wide-body aircraft, including nine A350-900 and three A340-300 aircraft, with options for another four A350 and an unannounced number of A340 options.
Finnair has now decided to exercise all A350 options as well as ordering a further two, bringing the number of A350XWB ordered to 15, with first deliveries slated for 2014.
Beyond the Airbus A330/340 orders in 2005, including utilisation of its options, the carrier has also ordered a further seven A340/A330 aircraft to be delivered from now to 2010.
The MD-11, earlier planned to be withdrawn from 2012, will thus be retired from Finnair's fleet during 2008-10 already.
After this, the airlines long-haul fleet will consist only of A340 and A330 aircraft which unifies the long-haul fleet with the European fleet of A320 family aircraft offering benefits like certification of cockpit crews to operate all airport types.
The accelerated fleet renewal plan will also significantly increase the cargo capacity on the carrier's Asian routes that drive the company's remarkable cargo growth.