SAS has dealt a blow to Boeing by deciding to acquire up to 22 Airbus A321s, rather than extend its large 737 commitment to include the 737-900.
The deal, worth more than SKr 4.5 billion ($524 million), includes 12 firm orders and 10 options, with deliveries beginning in the fourth quarter of next year.
The airline has chosen the International Aero Engines V2500-A5 engine, which will provide commonality with its eight similarly powered Boeing MD-90s.
SAS says the A321-100s will fill a new size class in its fleet, slotting between the short-haul 737-800s and Boeing MD-80/90s and its widebodies, its Boeing 767s and the recently ordered Airbus A330/A340s.
The 182-seaters will be operated between Scandinavian capital cities to key European points such as Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt, Helsinki, London, Madrid, Paris and Rome.
Although Airbus recently beat Boeing to the widebody order from SAS, the loss of this latest order to the European consortium is even more significant.
SAS was a launch customer for the Next Generation 737 and has a major commitment for the type, with 33 in service and a further 22 on order.
With SAS having ordered every other New Generation 737 variant, Boeing could have expected the airline to opt for the 180-seat -900, developed specifically to counter the A321.
Source: Flight International
