The SAS Group has announced it has sold 18 MD-80 aircraft to Allegiant Travel Company, a US based airline, that were made redundant as part of its drive to reduce its capacity by a total of 21 aircraft. By end of December 2009, 18 aircraft had already been taken out of service. As a result of this and earlier capacity reductions SAS holds MD-80 series surplus aircraft. Allegiant has previously bought 13 SAS MD80s. Following the sale, the SAS Group will have 24 MD-80´s in operation out of a total fleet of 191 aircraft.