Ariana Afghan Airlines tenders for six B737-800s

Ariana Afghan Airlines (FG, Kabul) has issued a request for proposals for the purchase of six B737-800s with bids due by 0000L (1930Z) July 29.

The tender is only open to aircraft owners, operators, leasing companies, resellers, sellers, seller agents and intermediaries/ brokers who have the legal right to sign a sales agreement.

In terms of aircraft, the state-owned airline is looking for B737-800s that are no older than 22 years of age and are powered by CFM International CFM56‐7B26 engines. The jets should also not be due for a C-check within the next six months or must have 1,000 hours remaining until its next C-check, which ever occurs first. Each engine should also have at least 3,000 flight cycles remaining while all three landing gears should have at least four years remaining until their next overhaul.

If a winner is chosen and final contract signed, handover should take place in either the UAE or Turkey.

Last week, Ariana also tendered for the purchase of a single B737-500 not older than 25 years of age and powered by CFM56-3C1 engines. While this does align with Chairman Mohammad Nader Omar's recent comments to that effect, it also suggests that plans to acquire B737-500 msn 27634 from Nevada-based CSDS Asset Management have now fallen through. According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, the ex-Belavia (B2, Minsk National) jet is still on the US register as N7353C and is still parked at Marana.

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