ACMI specialist German Airways intends to buy Embraer 190s in future, rather than leasing them, as at present.
Decisions on timing and the precise number of aircraft to be bought have still to be made, but the Cologne-based company intends to use attractive financing provided by its financial partners, which is available as German Airways can demonstrate sustainable organic growth, according to a company spokesman.
He added that the transaction makes economic sense for the company as it wants to use the aircraft for a longer period, and buying them will give the carrier depreciation potential on its balance sheet.
Additionally, German Airways has its own maintenance operation. With that in place, the company’s management is confident that it will be able to operate aircraft that are between 12 and 15 years old for many more years.
In terms of capacity, German Airways can maintain up to 15 aircraft in its maintenance facility. The airline currently operates eight E190s and aims to expand its technical operations to handle more third-party business.
“The wet-lease market is very stable at the moment,” the spokesman said. With major carriers having a continuing problem of delayed deliveries from OEMs, “German Airways is the insurance for them.”
The airline carried around 800,000 passengers in 2023. This year, the figure is likely to exceed 1 million.
It has not yet been decided if the aircraft that are bought will be the same ones that are currently leased.
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