newstodate.aero
Jun 29, 2009 (newstodate): The Latvian carrier airBaltic is preparing to take in its new fleet of Bombardier Q400 NewGen aircraft - the largest fleet expansion in the companys history.
The carrier will receive a total of eight Dash-8 Q400 aircraft, starting from November, 2009, and running through eight months.
The aircraft order was part of the parcel negotiated with Bombardier by the SAS Group settling a dispute after the grounding of the SAS Q400 fleet from the autumn of 2007.
The SAS Group placed orders for a total of 27 aircraft from the manufacturer, with an option for a further 24 aircraft.
While the order was negotiated by the SAS Group when it still owned 47.2 percent of the shares in airBaltic, the aircraft will be fully owned by airBaltic where the SAS shares have since been acquired by the carrier's CEO after a management buy-out.
airBaltic is now securing the financing of the aircraft, probably through a sale-lease back arrangement, sources say.
The carrier will receive a total of eight Dash-8 Q400 aircraft, starting from November, 2009, and running through eight months.
The aircraft order was part of the parcel negotiated with Bombardier by the SAS Group settling a dispute after the grounding of the SAS Q400 fleet from the autumn of 2007.
The SAS Group placed orders for a total of 27 aircraft from the manufacturer, with an option for a further 24 aircraft.
While the order was negotiated by the SAS Group when it still owned 47.2 percent of the shares in airBaltic, the aircraft will be fully owned by airBaltic where the SAS shares have since been acquired by the carrier's CEO after a management buy-out.
airBaltic is now securing the financing of the aircraft, probably through a sale-lease back arrangement, sources say.