14.01.2021 - 10:30 UTC
Nauru Airlines (ON, Nauru) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to start the process of replacing its B737-300 passenger fleet over the next few years, nominating pre-owned B737-700s or B737-800s as its preferred choice.
This is the word from Chief Executive Officer Geoff Bowmaker, who told ch-aviation by email that internal evaluations have resulted in the choices for its RFP.
Asked if other aircraft types, such as the Airbus A320 family, Airbus Canada A220 or Embraer E-Jet family had been considered; what sort of loads were anticipated going forward; and if regional aircraft would not be a better option given the decline in travel demand following COVID-19, Bowmaker responded: “Suffice to say that our internal evaluations reviewed such matters.” He said the timing of the fleet renewal was appropriate to the airline’s fleet planning programme, despite the impacts of the pandemic.
As previously reported, the fleet renewal is to be financed through a long-term USD25 million loan secured by the Government of Nauru from the Taiwanese Export–Import Bank....