Qantas has agreed to sell 44 Boeing 737NG aircraft and their 88 CFM56-7B engines to UK-based aftermarket specialist AerFin. Transfers are scheduled over seven years, with the first aircraft expected in 2026. The transaction, AerFin’s largest to date, gives the company a substantial supply of airframes and engines for the global aftermarket while allowing Qantas to phase out much of its 737 fleet as replacement aircraft arrive.
Qantas operates 79 Boeing 737-800s. The airline plans to retire most of the fleet but retains flexibility over the timing, which can be adjusted as new aircraft are delivered. The 737 remains a mainstay of its domestic operation and is expected to continue flying for several years; the agreement does not mean the aircraft are being transferred immediately.
Qantas has taken delivery of seven Airbus A321XLRs, with 41 more on order. Their arrival is part of the fleet transition underpinning the staged retirement plan. For AerFin, the deal expands its access to aircraft and engine assets in the Asia-Pacific market. The company became a wholly owned subsidiary of Dublin-based ORIX Aviation on 2 November, following completion of ORIX’s acquisition.