Norwegian (Oslo Gardermoen) Chief Executive Officer Bjørn Kjos has told Reuters newswire that his airline is close to finalizing its first leasing agreement for one of its one-hundred A320neo on order from Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac). The Scandinavian LCC is scheduled to take delivery of its first upgraded A320 later next year.

“We assume that in the next few months we will start leasing out the first (A320neo) aircraft,” he said at a conference in Paris. “We are in final discussions with lessees so it will be highly likely before the summer.”

In July last year, Kjos said his carrier was keen to establish a portfolio of 150 aircraft to proffer to the leasing market given its enormous aircraft order backlog of 100 A320neo and 100 B737 MAX (slated to enter commercial service in 2017). Leases will be extended via the carrier's new Dublin-based subsidiary.

Kjos also confirmed that Norwegian had been approached by 'several rival airlines' about possible partnerships but had not pursued them any further preferring instead to remain 'independent'.