S7 Airlines to lease more A320neos

New A320neos will be delivered to S7 after 2017 (Photo by S7 Airlines)

Directors board of Russia’s largest private carrier S7 Airlines has approved plans for leasing 16 Airbus А320neo, the carrier’s spokesperson told Russian Aviation Insider. These aircraft come as addition to the three A321neos the airline ordered earlier this year.

Deliveries of the re-engined narrowbodies will commence after 2017, according to the airline’s co-owner and chairwoman Natalia Fileva, quoted by TASS newswire. The aircraft are intended for replacing S7’s aging fleet of current-generation A320s.

S7 Airlines, Russia’s second largest carrier by passengers carried, will become the country’s first operator of the Airbus’ re-engined narrowbody family.

The airline signed its first contract for operational lease of three A321neos with Air Lease Corporation this year and is expecting the first delivery to take place next year. The two companies also have a letter of intent for two A320neos. S7 earlier announced its plans to completely replace its current A320 family fleet with the new engine option aircraft within the next ten to 12 years.

The carrier currently operates a fleet of 20 A319s and 19 A320s, and six A321s. It also flies two Boeing 767 widebodies.