Ariana Afghan Airlines looks to grow B737 fleet

Ariana Afghan Airlines (FG, Kabul) is on the market for a B737-500, almost six months after it sold its first aircraft of the type, YA-FGA (msn 29074), to sister carrier Bakhtar Afghan Airlines (BM, Kabul). According to tender documents seen by ch-aviation, the state-owned airline is looking for an aircraft that is no older than 23 years old (i.e., 1998 model or later), while all three landing gears should have at least four years remaining before their next overhaul. Conditional terms are that there should not be any open major technical issue for the coming six months or 1,000 flight hours remaining to the next heavy or “C” check. Each CFM International CFM56‐3C1 engine should also have at least 2,500 flight cycles remaining. Offers are to be submitted between March 31 and April 3, 2021. The only bids to be accepted will be those submitted by the aircraft’s owners/operators/leasing companies, resellers, seller, seller agent, and intermediaries/brokers who have the legal right to sign the sales agreement and are collectively referred to as the bidder OR contractor. The ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows Ariana’s current fleet consists of one active A310-300 and two B737-400s, of which one is now operational – YA-PID (msn 26085) – while the other – YA-PIC (msn 26088) – is still grounded at Moscow Sheremetyevo.