SAS Scandinavian Airlines (SK, Copenhagen Kastrup) has confirmed it will defer delivery of its first A350-900s by up to a year as part of cost-cutting measures aimed at saving USD164 million by 2019.

SAS had originally planned to add the type to its fleet from 2018 onwards but, according to its 2015/16 Financial Year report, that date has now been pushed back to its 2019/20 Financial Year i.e. November 2019–October 2020.

During that period, three of A350s will be delivered followed by the remaining five during its 2020/21 Financial Year i.e. November 1, 2020–October 31, 2021.

In addition to the eight A350s it has on firm order from Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac), SAS also has options for a further six which it has yet to exercise.

SAS will use the A350s to eventually renew its widebody fleet which currently consists of eight A330-300s and eight A340-300s.

Aside from the deferred deliveries, SAS Group also plans to cut 1,000 administrative jobs in anticipation of rising fuel prices and intensified competition.