Finnair agrees on sale and leaseback of two new Airbus 321 Sharklet aircraft

Finnair has entered into an agreement with a Japanese aircraft leasing company NBB to sell and leaseback two new Airbus A321 Sharklet aircraft. The transaction was arranged by US-based lessor BBAM. The lease periods are 12 years.

“The current good state of the aircraft financing market allows sale and leaseback arrangements on very competitive terms. Thanks to our strong balance sheet, we are in a position to flexibly choose the most economical financing sources when renewing our fleet – and at the same time optimize the balance between owned and leased aircraft," says Finnair’s CFO Erno Hildén.

Finnair has ordered in total five Airbus 321 Sharklet aircraft from Airbus. The first aircraft was delivered to Finnair on September 5, 2013. Two more aircraft will be delivered in the last quarter of 2013 and the final two in the first quarter of 2014. The announced sale and leaseback arrangement concerns the first two aircraft. The new A321s will replace the four Boeing 757 aircraft currently used in Finnair’s leisure traffic.