Finnair (Helsinki) has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with GE Capital Aviation Services Limited (GECAS), on the sale and leaseback of two Airbus A350-900 aircraft. The financing will cover Finnair’s 6th and 7th A350 deliveries, which are currently scheduled to enter the Finnair fleet in July 2016 and February 2017, respectively. The value of the transaction at present foreign exchange rates is approximately 265 million euro. The lease period is 12 years, and it includes extension options.

Finnair has ordered a total of 19 new A350-900 XWB aircraft in the fleet or on order. Finnair took delivery of its first A350 aircraft (OH-LWA) on October 7, 2015 and the second (OH-LWB, above) on December 14, 2015. According to the currently anticipated delivery schedule, Finnair will have five A350-900 aircraft at the beginning of the second quarter of 2016, seven by the end of 2016, 11 by the end of 2017, and 19 by the end of 2023.

Disclosures on financing arrangements for the A350 aircraft will be made as those agreements are finalized. Finnair’s fleet consists of both owned and leased aircraft.

Copyright Photo: Eurospot/AirlinersGallery.com. The second Finnair Airbus A350-941 (OH-LWB, msn 019) is also the first A350 to appear in the oneworld special livery.

Finnair aircraft slide show: