Fleet Plan News: Hello soon to receive first Airbus A320

The Swiss charter and wet-leasing airline which is replacing its fleet of McDonnell Douglas MD-90s, is shortly expected to receive the first of three former Philippine Airlines Airbus A320-214s (reg HB-JIZ, serial 936) on lease from AerCap. The second aircraft (serial 1171) is due in December and the third (serial 1210) is expected to arrive at Hello's Basel base in January 2011. Although subleased from SAS, unlike two previous Hello MD-90s which were leased from Boeing Capital Corporation, the three departing aircraft are thought likely to find their way to the same new operator, Delta Air Lines. Delta is known to like the performance and capability of the MD-90, especially when considered against the price of similar capability in a new build Boeing or Airbus. The Atlanta-based carrier has been acquiring MD-90s as they become available and already has a fleet of 28 of the IAE V2500-powered twins in service.

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