Aeroflot to lease 10 more Boeing 737-800s

The aircraft will be leased from Sberbank's subsidiary — SB Leasing Ireland Limited (Photo by Aeroflot)

Aeroflot’s board of directors is planning to review the issue of leasing a number of aircraft of several types, primarily narrowbodies, according to the December 23 board meeting agenda. A source in the industry told Russian Aviation Insider that the only new contract to consider is for ten factory new Boeing 737-800s. The aircraft were scheduled for delivery in 2017.

The lessor in this transaction is Sberbank’s subsidiary, SB Leasing Ireland Limited, it may be assumed that the deal is for ten 737-800s, which were initially ordered by and built for now defunct Transaero. Aeroflot earlier inked a preliminary agreement with Sbebank to take these aircraft.

The airline is considering operational leasing of the aircraft, however there are no details available as to which of the Aeroflot Group’s subsidiaries will operate them. The aircraft are intended for fleet renewal, Russian Aviation Insider’s source said.

Aerolot’s low-cost subsidiary Pobeda is expecting delivery of Boeing 737-800, however the deal has already been signed for five aircraft with BOC Aviation. These aircraft are to be delivered from September 2017 to May 2018.

The group is also taking delivery of 737s under contract for 50 aircraft, which it signed with Avia Capital Leasing.

At the end of November Aeroflot’s fleet consisted of 71 Airbus A320, 32 A321s, 20 Boeing 737s, 15 Boeing 777s, 22 A330s and 30 Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ 100s).