Airbus and Norwegian Air Shuttle subsidiary Arctic Aviation Assets have agreed to postpone deliveries of A320neos and A321LRs, the airline has announced.
Postponement of aircraft deliveries is part of the airline’s effort to reduce capital expenditures, as it is aiming to implement its strategy of capitalizing on the scale that is already built up and changed focus from growth to profitability. In 2019 and 2020, the move will reduce Norwegian’s capital expenditure commitments by approximately $570 million, the company estimates.
Norwegian had orders for a total of 93 Airbus aircraft as of March 31, 2019. These include 63 A320neo jets and 30 A321neos. Back in 2012, the carrier placed and then firmed up an order for 100 A320neo aircraft with Airbus. Later on, in 2016, it switched 30 A320neo aircraft to 30 A321LRs, which, among other benefits, would have meant Norwegian becoming the first low-cost carrier to operate the A321LR, the manufacturer announced at the time.
The main photo: Norwegian’s Boeing 737-800