Norwegian to buy three leased Boeing 737-800 aircraft

COPENHAGEN, July 8 (Reuters) - Budget carrier Norwegian NAS.OL said on Tuesday it had agreed to purchase three Boeing BA.N 737-800 aircraft that are currently on lease to the airline.

The deal is expected to close in the third quarter of this year, and will initially be funded through the company's cash reserves, while Norwegian is looking at securing long-term financing after completion, the company said in a statement.

The airline said it expects to book a non-recurring gain of about 260 million Norwegian crowns ($25.76 million) as a result of the deal.

Norwegian in March also announced it had agreed to buy 10 Boeing 737-800 aircraft that were part of its leased fleet.

($1 = 10.0927 Norwegian crowns)