en.Wedoany.com Reported - SAS Scandinavian Airlines has ordered 18 Airbus A330neo aircraft, aiming to expand its long-haul network and plans to establish a third hub within the future Air France-KLM Group.

SAS CEO Anko van der Werff stated on June 30 that the aircraft combines economic efficiency and environmental performance, playing a key role in the company's long-term fleet strategy. Van der Werff noted that this is the largest investment in the company's history and a clear vote of confidence in the future.

Currently, SAS operates six A350-900s, eight A330-300s, and three A321LRs for long-haul routes. Its Chief Commercial Officer Paul Verhagen told Aviation Week during the International Air Transport Association annual meeting in early June: "Long-haul routes absolutely need growth. We have 140 aircraft, but only about 15 are used for long-haul routes, with the fleet structure heavily skewed toward short-haul." The firm order for 18 A330neo aircraft is part of a series of fleet adjustment plans. Next summer, SAS will integrate five former Virgin Atlantic A330-300s to expand its widebody fleet more quickly. The A330neo will gradually replace the existing A330 fleet and leave room for growth.

Verhagen revealed that the airline plans to operate two widebody models in the future. The A350 is too large for some destinations, while the A330 cannot serve certain Asian destinations. The long-haul network is not limited to transatlantic routes; Latin America and Asia are also under consideration.

On the narrowbody front, SAS last year confirmed an order for 45 Embraer 195-E2 aircraft to renew its European fleet, which are smaller than the A320neo. These fleet adjustments come as the airline awaits regulatory approval for Air France-KLM to acquire a majority stake, followed by an application for antitrust immunity to join the transatlantic joint venture of Air France, KLM, and Virgin Atlantic in the future.

For Airbus, this order marks another positive development for the A330neo program. Just days before SAS's announcement, China Eastern Airlines committed to purchasing 25 A330neo aircraft. In March, Delta Air Lines also committed to ordering 16 of this model and 16 A350-900s.