Norwegian Air sells 6 Boeing aircraft as part of fleet renewal

Norwegian Air has sold six Boeing 737-800 airliners as part of fleet renewal plans that could see it sell up to 140 planes. "The prices are well above the debt on the aircraft," CFO Geir Karlsen said Thursday, without disclosing numbers. The sales proceeds will be used to repay debt and increase liquidity. Norwegian Air has a fleet of more than 150 aircraft and has commitments to acquire a further 210 by 2020 as it looks to rapidly expand in Europe and on transatlantic routes. Its aircraft commitments are worth $12.36b, Norwegian Air said in a June rights issue prospectus. With an equity ratio at the end of June of just 7%, the plan is to ease its commitments going forward. "We have said we will renew our fleet and sell our oldest aircraft. We have 22 Boeing 737NG and they are a target to be changed with new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft." "In theory we could sell as many as 140 aircraft," Karlsen said.<br/>