Adria Airways sells new CRJ900

Adria finalises sale and leaseback arrangement

Adria Airways has sold a brand new Bombardier CRJ900 NextGen aircraft it recently ordered from the Canadian plane manufacturer to Falko Regional Aircraft Limited and finalised a leaseback agreement. As a result, Adria will now lease the new aircraft it sold to Falko. Such practice is common in the aviation industry. Late last month, the Slovenian national carrier ordered two CRJ900 NextGens in a deal worth $92 million. Falko and Adria have also agreed to finance the second CRJ900 NextGen aircraft under a similar sale and leaseback arrangement. In addition, the airline has leased two CRJ900s, one of which recently entered service, and the other which is expected to arrive during the summer months.

Adria’s CEO, Mark Anžur, says, “Our Bombardier CRJ900 regional jets are providing excellent cost efficiency, network flexibility and have been very well received by our passengers. We are very pleased that we have been able to organise the addition of two more CRJ900 NextGen aircraft from Bombardier via sale and leaseback agreements with Falko”. On the other hand, Ray Jones, the Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Asset Management at Bombardier, notes, “By adding more CRJ900 NextGen regional jets to its fleet, Adria Airways is confirming that the aircraft are successfully replacing larger aircraft and providing optimum capacity for the airline’s operations. Bombardier is delighted that the CRJ900 NextGen aircraft are proving to be efficient and economical assets that are contributing to Adria’s success”.

Adria currently has five CRJ900s in its fleet. The airline is expecting the arrival of another leased jet of the same type and a further two brand new aircraft from the abovementioned deal. The arrival date of the two new jets is currently unknown. As a result, the airline will begin retiring its smaller CRJ200 aircraft which have proven unprofitable. The Slovenian carrier continues to operate two Airbus A319s and one A320, with the latter used almost exclusively for charter flights. Adria has been a long time Bombardier customer, ordering its first aircraft from the Canadian plane manufacturer back in 1997. Adria Tehnika, which was once a subsidiary of the Slovenian carrier but is now an independent company, serves as the regional Bombardier maintenance centre.