Primera Air, the airline unit of Scandinavia's Primera Travel Group, has announced it will become the world's B737-9 launch operator once deliveries of the type begin in 2019.
In a statement, the carrier group said it had firmed up purchase rights for two more MAX 9s. As such, its overall MAX 9 order book with Boeing (BOE, Washington National) now stands at ten units with purchase rights for two more of the type. Three of the jets will be operated on sales/lease-back deals with Aviation Capital Group. It is recalled Primera Air is also expecting eight more MAX 9s on lease from Air Lease Corporation.
“Being the first airline in the world to take the B737 MAX 9 - Extended Range into service gives Primera Air a fantastic opportunity and position to grow new traffic on routes that so far have been either underserved or simply very expensive. It will also allow us to offer travellers very friendly fares and great service on our flights,” Andri Már Ingólfsson, the president and owner of Primera Air, said.
Primera Air is present in Denmark via Primera Air Scandinavia (Billund) and Latvia via Primera Air Nordic (Riga). It currently operates flights between cities in Iceland, Sweden, Finland, and Norway, and leisure destinations in Morocco, Iceland, Spain, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Malta, and Croatia.
As previously reported, in 2018, it will commence transatlantic services between the United Kingdom and France, and the United States using its incoming fleet of A321neo, due to arrive early next year.
