Icelandair group to buy 10 Boeing 737-800 airplanes

Icelandair group to buy 10 Boeing 737-800 airplanes    Flugleidir Icelandair Group, Icelandair’s parent company, has made a firm order for 10 Boeing 737-800 airplanes, totaling $650 million at list prices, plus purchase rights for five more aircraft of the same type.
   The Flugleidir Icelandair Group will take delivery of the first planes early next year and plans to establish a separate subsidiary to lease the airplanes to other carriers, with China being a target market, the group said in a statement.
   “Strong demand for the 737 among lessees and the 737’s economic performance and investment value make it the best choice for our new leasing venture,” said Hannes Smarason, executive chairman of the group. “We have already taken the first step into the leasing market with three Boeing 737-500s that we lease to Air Baltic in partnership with others and we see this deal as a critical step to develop this business further.”