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Laudamotion in talks with lessors over new planes

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BERLIN: Austrian airline Laudamotion, in which Ryanair is buying a majority stake, is in talks with both Airbus and leasing companies to expand its fleet quickly as it seeks to establish itself following its rebirth from the remains of Air Berlin.


“It’s very hard. Airbus is sold out until end of 2020,” Laudamotion owner and former F1 racing champion Niki Lauda told journalists in Berlin on Monday.


“But there are enough leasing firms,” he added.


Laudamotion currently has nine Airbus A320 planes and is using a further 10 Boeing 737 jets from Ryanair this year, taking its fleet to 19.


It wants to reach a fleet of 30 planes within the next two years.


Laudamotion is currently focused on selling tickets at low prices to ensure its planes are full and to attract customers, Lauda said.


That’s a strategy similar to that of Ryanair, which regularly cuts prices to fill planes.


Laudamotion achieved its targeted load factor of 85 per cent in May, managing director Andreas Gruber said.


Ryanair is awaiting EU approval to increase its stake to 75 per cent and Lauda said he expected the green light this summer. — Reuters


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