STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN — Scandinavian Airlines SAS has stated that it should mitigate the financial pressure on the company due to some idle planes in its long-haul fleet that were intended to serve destinations in Asia.
The airline suspended almost all of its flights to Asia due to airspace closure amidst the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
"The airline had too many widebody aircraft," said Chief Executive Anko van der Werff, speaking during the second-quarter briefing last week
"We cannot fly to Asia as we would have liked," he said, adding that there is "no certainty" as to when Russian airspace will re-open.
The pandemic also continues to affect Asian markets. The complexity of the situation forces the airline to negotiate with aircraft leasing companies to return some of the leased aircraft and get a discount on the leasing payments for the rest.
Anko van der Werff said the company might need to go to court if it cannot reach an agreement with the lessors to restructure its fleet.
SAS currently operates 14 long-haul jets, a mix of Airbus A350s and A330s. Two more A350s are scheduled for delivery in 2024.
The Nordic carrier plans to strengthen its position in the regional market by adding smaller aircraft types.
