Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS), Denmark-Norway-Sweden, a leading Scandinavian airline company whose chairman is Fritz Schur is to lease eight MD-90-30 aircraft to an undisclosed US operator.

A statement from SAS said the transaction is part of an initiative to reduce the number of aircraft types in its total fleet. The average age of the MD- 90's is 13.5 years.

SAS Group fleet consists of 239 aircraft of which 145 are in operation by the largest airline Scandinavian Airlines. Almost 75% of Scandinavian Airlines aircraft are so called new generation aircrafts, with an average age below 8 years when excluding short term wet-leases and current phase-outs.The eight MD-90-30 aircraft will undergo extensive maintenance checks prior to delivery to the lessee.

The transaction was arranged by SkyWorks Leasing, LLC a US company which provides turn-key third party portfolio asset management, remarketing and technical advisory services for commercial aircraft. SkyWorks professionals manage a diverse portfolio of 126 aircraft. During the post 9/11 downturn the company had first hand experience in numerous US and international airline bankruptcies that resulted in aircraft repossessions and restructurings.

Last month SkyWorks arranged for SAS to sub-lease one A340-300 aircraft (s/n 450) to the Lisbon-based wet-lease specialist Hi Fly Transportes Aereos S.A.