Avianca Brasil to cut fleet, avoid plane seizures for now: lawyer

Avianca Brasil will trim its fleet and return some leased planes to owners trying to repossess them, a lawyer for the airline said Monday. The attorney, who spoke on condition that he not be identified, also said the aircraft lessors had agreed to grant the airline 15 more days to fly the planes while renegotiating delinquent lease payments. The lawyer who spoke after a closed hearing in bankruptcy court said that details were not final. Without a deal, the airline would have faced the immediate seizure of 20% of its fleet, which is owned by lessor Aircastle, and could have lost more planes in the future. The deal which includes several airplane lessors came together at the last minute. As of Friday the airline had not made any concrete proposals to keep the planes, a source said.<br/>