SAS Scandinavian Airlines (SK, Copenhagen Kastrup) wants to return around 10% of its in-house fleet to lessors as part of its SAS FORWARD restructuring program. Legal representatives of the airline filed a motion on September 3 to reject the leases and implement lease rejection and return procedures. SAS Scandinavian plans to jettison five narrowbody and five widebody jets in addition to two other relinquished leases. The airline also wants to return CFM International CFM56 engines.

According to the ch-aviation fleets module, the carrier's in-house fleet currently entails four A319-100s (all owned), eleven A320-200s (two owned), fifty-two A320-200Ns (11 owned), seven A321-200s (four owned), three A321-200NX (all leased), eight A330-300s (four owned), six A350-900s (four owned), ten B737-700s (eight owned), and four B737-800s (all owned). Three E195s are operated via its SAS Link (SVS, Copenhagen Kastrup) subsidiary.

"The debtors are party to a number of aircraft lease agreements that are significantly above market or no longer fit their go-forward business plan," the filing to the Southern District of New York US Bankruptcy Court reads. "While the debtors sought various concessions from aircraft lessors prior to the commencement date, including amending existing leases on mark-to-market terms and returning aircraft, the debtors were unable to achieve the level of concessions needed to successfully implement SAS FORWARD."

The ten aircraft SAS has applied to return are;

  • A320neo EI-SIF (msn 8109) on lease from SMBC Aviation Capital;
  • A320neo SE-ROD (msn 7755) on lease from SMBC;
  • A320neo SE-ROC (msn 7723) on lease from SMBC;
  • A321-200 OY-KBL (msn 1619) on lease from IC AirLease One Limited;
  • A330-300 LN-RKU (msn 1715) on lease from Jin Shan 7 Ireland Company;
  • A330-300 LN-RKT (msn 1697) on lease from Jin Shan 7 Ireland Company;
  • A330-300 LN-RKS (msn 1665) on lease from Jin Shan Ireland Company Limited;
  • A350-900 SE-RSC (msn 391) on lease from FS World Leasing Co., Ltd;
  • A350-900 SE-RSB (msn 378) on lease from FLIP No.247 Co. Ltd., FLIP; and
  • B737-700 SE-RET (msn 32734) on lease from ACS 18-Pack Irish DAC.

It had previously sought to relinquish:

  • A321-200 OY-KBH (msn 1675) on lease from IC AirLease One Ltd;
  • A321-200 LN-RKK (msn 1848) on lease from IC AirLease One Ltd;

The filing notes the application to return the aircraft follows a comprehensive fleet review that aims to reduce the mix of aircraft in operation considering market conditions, demand, and other business factors.

"While this review remains in progress, the Debtors anticipate reducing the size of their fleet and returning uneconomic aircraft and related equipment," the filing notes.