CA BIN R E TROFITS
quick
THINKING
AIRCRAFT GROUNDINGS CAN SPELL DISASTER FOR
AIRLINE OPERATIONS. LEASING IS A GREAT SOLUTION,
BUT GETTING NEW AIRCRAFT ON BRAND AND
IN THE AIR AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE IS A COMPLEX
PROCESS. SOME EXPERT ADVICE CAN HELP…
Words by Ma r isa Ga rcia . Ill ustration by Andrea Manzati
T here are occasions when airlines
aircraftinteriorsinternational.com
058 MARCH 2020
have to alter their fleet plans
suddenly, due to factors such as
the postponement of aircraft deliveries,
or the grounding an aircraft type, as has
been the case with the Boeing 737 MAX.
Thankfully such occasions are rare, but
when they do occur they cause major
disruption, and the solution may be to
lease aircraft to fill the fleet gap. That
process can be tricky enough to handle,
but once the leased aircraft arrive, airlines
are then faced with having to arrange
modifications so the cabins are consistent
with their brand. We consulted with
industry experts to learn more about the
process and what it takes to ensure that
such modifications are a swift success.
While the need to lease aircraft may
arise suddenly, cabin modifications
require thorough planning, and the
decision of how to proceed should be
guided by how long the aircraft is expected
to be in service. It is possible to lease
aircraft in ‘as is’ condition to cover shortterm
needs, but the more an airline wants
the aircraft to reflect their brand, the
longer the commitment should be.
/aircraftinteriorsinternational.com