SAS Scandinavian Receives Approval to Sell A321-200s to Spectre Air Capital

A US Bankruptcy Court judge in the Southern District of New York has authorized SAS Scandinavian Airlines to proceed with the sale of four A321-200 aircraft without engines to Spectre Air Capital. The aircraft, with registrations OY-KBB, LN-RKI, OY-KBK, and OY-KBE, are between 20 and 22 years old and have been stored in Marana.

Spectre Air Capital, a Texan company specializing in aircraft sales and leasing, will acquire the A321-200s on an “as is/where is” basis, without any liens, claims, or interests. SAS’s transformation plan, called SAS FORWARD, includes a fleet redesign, and selling these aircraft aligns with that strategy.

The sale process involved obtaining bids from interested parties, with Spectre’s bid being deemed the most favorable compared to parting out the aircraft. Following negotiations, SAS and Spectre signed a letter of intent (LOI) on March 20, 2023. Specific details of the sale, including the purchase price and delivery date, were kept confidential due to commercial sensitivities.

SAS Scandinavian Airlines voluntarily entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in July 2022. The carrier has been reducing its fleet size as part of its restructuring efforts, and the sale of these A321-200s contributes to that effort. The airline currently operates with a fleet of 72 owned and dry leased aircraft, as it continues to navigate its transformation and recovery.