++ Virgin has confirmed that it will add two new Airbus A340-300s in 1998 (Flight International, 13-19 August ) but that one of the aircraft will be acquired on a four-year operating lease from International Lease Finance (ILFC). The aircraft will be delivered in March 1998, and will be joined by a second A340, supplied direct from Airbus, in June 1998. ++ KLMCargo will expand its European cargo capacity from October with the lease of an Airbus A300B4 freighter from Heavylift Cargo Airlines. The aircraft will be operated on services to Milan, Italy, Skavsta, Sweden, and Zaragoza, Spain. ++ Frontier Airlines has introduced its twelfth Boeing 737, a new -300 on lease from Boullioun Aviation Services, which brings its fleet of 737s to seven -200s and five -300s. ++ Philippine Airlines (PAL) has taken delivery of its first of 12 Airbus A320s, which will be operated on the airline's domestic and regional services. With the arrival of the A320, PAL becomes the first airline to operate the A320, A330 and A340 under one banner. The CFM International CFM56-5-powered aircraft are configured in a two-class 156-seat layout. ++ Egyptian charter airline Heliopolis, which flies Boeing MD-80s, has acquired an ex-Oasis Airbus A310-200 from Airbus. The aircraft, which was originally operated by Kuwait Airways, has been in storage for almost two years. ++ Indian Airlines is planning to offer its 12 ageing Boeing 737-200s for sale, and then lease the aircraft back for operation by its Alliance Air subsidiary. The plan has been drawn up to partly finance the purchase of six 50-seat regional aircraft, for which bidding has apparently just opened. Indian is also seeking bids for the disposal of three of its eight Airbus A300B2-100s. ++ ALM has placed one of two ex-Qatar Airways Boeing 747SRs with Saudi Arabian Airlines on wet lease. ++ Air Canada has arranged to lease a high gross weight Airbus A340-300 from ILFC, for delivery in May 1998. The aircraft will be operated on an initial five-year lease.
Source: Flight International
