SAS Scandinavian Airlines has deferred deliveries of a total of 10 Airbus aircraft: 8 A320neos and two A350XWBs. Despite the postponed new aircraft arrivals, the airline remains hopeful of becoming a single-type operator by 2023.
SAS reached an agreement with Airbus to delay the arrival of 8 A320neo and 2 A350-900s, the airline revealed in a statement on August 25, 2020. The air carrier has not clarified whether the 8 postponed A320neos also include three A321LRs, previously expected to arrive in the second half of 2020.
The now-postponed aircraft were previously due to arrive by 2024. Now, the airline expects new aircraft arrivals to align with the recovery of travel demand, in addition to helping it save on capital expenditure in 2021-2024.
Meanwhile, SAS plans to become a single-type fleet operator by 2023 remain intact. As of August 25, 2020, SAS had a fleet of over 150 aircraft. Besides several Airbus models, the airline also operated Bombardier CRJ, Boeing 737 and ATR-72 aircraft.