IAG says its A380 options too expensive, looking to lease secondhand

BA owner IAG is holding talks on leasing additional A380s second hand because it believes the options it has to buy more of the Airbus superjumbo are too expensive, its CE said Monday. The move is part of a strategy of increasing the proportion of leased aircraft IAG has within its fleet, Willie Walsh said. ”We have options on A380s ... but we are not going to exercise them because they are too expensive," he said. "We see the option of leasing them second hand as an attractive opportunity." Walsh said IAG was also interested in leasing or buying more second-hand Boeing 777-300ERs. "We see going forward probably a greater mix of leased in the fleet than we’ve traditionally had," he said. Walsh said IAG was looking at adding another five or six A380s to the BA fleet, but that the jet could also be suitable for Spain-based group airline Iberia.<br/>