Belgian long-haul start-up VG Airlines has taken delivery of the first of three ex-Sabena Airbus A330-200s, with the second due to follow later this month and the third arriving in early April. The airline expects to begin scheduled operations before the end of March on services from Brussels to Boston, Miami and New York. Meanwhile, BAE Systems Aircraft Services Group has teamed up with UK consultants Airclaims to remarket four ex-Sabena Airbus A319s and one A321. Turkish charter carrier MNG Airlines has acquired the first of its planned fleet of Boeing 737-400s from Hapag-Lloyd in a deal arranged by Mitra Aviation of Toulouse, France. New Tunisian charter carrier Karthago Airlines has signed a lease deal with Ansett Worldwide for two Boeing 737-300s. The first aircraft has already been delivered and the second will follow in April. Tobago Express has taken delivery of an ex-Rheintalflug Bombardier Dash 8 Q300 for operation on services between Trinidad and Tobago. Airstream International Group arranged the deal. Italian charter carrier Volare Airlines has concluded a ten-year lease deal with International Lease Finance (ILFC) for five General Electric CF6-80E1-powered Airbus A330-200s - four ex-Canada 3000 aircraft and one new example. The four used aircraft will be delivered by the middle of this year, while the new A330 will arrive in November 2004. Malev Hungarian Airlines has ordered two Bombardier CRJ200ERs for delivery in June and July. It has placed orders for a further six. Blue Panorama has signed a five-year lease deal with ILFC for two Boeing 767-300ERs. The first aircraft will be delivered by mid April, with the second arriving in November. The 767s will be operated on long-range charters from Italy. Hurstfield, a company owned by Executive Turbine of Lanseria, South Africa, has purchased two ex-Eagle Aviation ATR 42-320s in a deal arranged by Focus Aviation.
Source: Flight International
