Czech airlines CSA orders 8 Airbus planes

PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AP) The Czech state-run airline CSA said Wednesday it has ordered eight Airbus A319 planes as it continues to modernize its medium-range fleet.

The planes will be delivered between 2011-2012 and will replace aging Boeing 737s that the airline currently uses, CSA spokeswoman Daniela Hupakova said in a statement.

CSA said it signed a contract in 2004 to buy six A319 and six A320 jets to expand the fleet and to replace some older planes due to be retired. The contract included an option for the airline to get an additional eight planes in the future.

The airline was exercising the option now because ``CSA will necessarily need the new planes in the years 2011-2012,'' CSA President Radomir Lasak said.

Financial details were not given.

CSA currently has 50 planes, including medium-range Boeing 737s, Airbus jets A319 and A320, long-range A310 and short-range ATR42 and ATR72.

CSA, which offers flights to 104 destinations in 44 countries, carried a record of nearly 5.5 million passengers last year.

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wonder what will eventually replace the A310s. do they really have the need for an A332?