Further to last week's report, the three Airbus A320s being acquired by Airtours International German associate Fly FTI are being leased from Japanese Lessor Orix. The Munich-based charter airline is also leasing a Boeing 737. Fortis Aviation has placed two 11-year-old ex-Philippine Airlines Shorts 360-300s on two-year leases with German regional carrier RAS Flug, to replace two similar aircraft being returned to their lessors. Aircraft Leasing and Management (ALM) has arranged the sale of two of 11 Fokker F28 Mk4000s it is remarketing for SAS, to Paris-based investment company Moncey Investissements. One of the aircraft has been placed with TAME of Ecuador. ALM says that five other F28s have been sold, subject to contract. Iberia has concluded a sale and leaseback deal with Babcock and Brown of 16 Rolls-Royce Boeing 757-200s it has on order. The deal includes eight firm orders due for delivery in 1999, and eight options scheduled for 2000. Iberia operates 14 757s on lease, but has decided to standardise on the Airbus A320 family for its long term fleet and intends to eventually phase out its 757 fleet. Thai International is disposing of its last remaining Airbus A310, and is seeking bids for sale or lease of the 13-year-old aircraft. The General Electric CF6-80C2-powered A310-200 is one of two delivered to Thai in 1986, the other being lost in the accident last December at Surat Thani. Ansett Worldwide Aviation Services has placed a new Boeing 737-700 with Sahara Airlines. The New Delhi-based carrier operates five 737s, three -200Advs and two -400s. US operating lessor Pegasus Aviation is understood to have repossessed four Boeing 727-100s and three 737-200s from Aero Peru, which recently suspended operations. Italian regional start-up Italy First has acquired two ex-Thai ATR 42-320s in a deal arranged by Cabot.
Source: Flight International
