Vol. 414 No. 2
30 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if he will outline (1) the cost of the full fleet replacement programme for Aer Lingus for the coming decade and (2) the way the programme is proposed to be financed.
Aer Lingus are currently engaged in a programme of fleet replacement in respect of their Europen fleet. Since October 1987, a total of 12 B737 jet aircraft and six Fokker 50 aircraft have been delivered to Aer Lingus. A further four B737s are due for delivery between now and April 1992. The total cost of these 22 aircraft amounts to approximately $602 million, and will be financed by the airline through a combination of their own resources and borrowing without recourse to the Government for equity or State guarantee of borrowing.
Aer Lingus recently signed an agreement for the lease of a further two B737s to be delivered in spring 1993. This will bring to 18 the number of new B737 aircraft in the Aer Lingus fleet. I have no proposals before me for any further development of the airline's European fleet.
Aer Lingus are also planning for the necessary replacement of the North Atlantic fleet during the 1990s. I expect to receive the airline's proposals in this regard in due course.
