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Aviation History
1985
1985 - 2345.PDF
UTA streamlines fleet PARIS UTA (Union de Transports Aeriens), the French privately-owned long-haul carrier, is reorganising its fleet in an aggressive drive to capture new passenger and cargo markets and make good the loss of two destroyed aircraft, reports Gilbert Sedbon. Already 1985 first quarter results in Africa, the Far East, and Pacific point to a definite rise in traffic. The company has succeed ed in securing delivery of a 747-300 Combi from Boeing at the end of this year, three months ahead of schedule. And in April 1986 the airline will receive another 747, bene fiting from an order cancelled by one of Boeing's clients. At this stage the company has not yet decided whether this will be a Combi or all passenger airliner. Pending arrival of the new Boeing 747s, UTA has dry- leased from Trans Inter national (TIA, a charter subsidiary of Transamerica based in Louisville, Ken tucky) a 747-200 for six months to operate its Paris— Noumea service. This aircraft replaces UTA's 747-300 (F-GDUA) which was des troyed by a fire which broke out in the cabin on March 16, when the aeroplane was parked for overhaul on the standing area of the Engin eering and Maintenance Division at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. Because of overcapacity caused by a drop in freight traffic for three years running, and the company's continued policy of converting its fleet to Boeing 747 Combis, UTA has sold its 747 Cargo aircraft (F-GPAN) to Air France, for delivery next March. UTA has confirmed the order of a new 747-300 Combi, which will be delivered in December 1985 instead of March 1986 as originally intended. This new 747-300 will be equipped to carry 11 pallets on the main deck instead of the seven in the 747-200 Combi version. It will carry either 261 passengers and 45 tonnes of freight (instead of 32 tonnes of freight on the pres ent Combi), or 309 passengers and 32 • 5 tonnes of freight. Furthermore, to standard ise its fleet, UTA has decided to modify two existing 747-200s to the 300 version. These alterations to the two aircraft will be carried out during the first half of 1986. As a result of all these deci sions, says UTA spokes woman Francoise Le Bihan, the airline should (by June, 1986) have a fleet of five 747s: one 747-200 all-cargo, one 747-300 in all-passenger version, and three 747-300 Combis for use principally on its African network. In addition, UTA will continue to operate its six DC-10 aircraft. A more economical replacement has not been found among the new aircraft offered by the manufacturers as yet, says Le Bihan. The 1985 first-quarter over all results are promising, says UTA. The number of passen gers carried globally increased by 6-9 per cent, compared with the corresponding period in 1984. In First Class it increased by 9-4 per cent, whereas traffic measured in passenger-kilometres carried rose by 10 per cent. Load factor during this period reached 67 • 3 per cent, against 62-3 per cent this time last year. In March 1985 alone, UTA scored a 20-7 per cent increase in passenger traffic (18 per cent in First Class). A new business class section (called Galaxy), installed on the DC-lOs since May 4, is recording a load factor in excess of 60 per cent. In freight, recovery is still awaited. During the first quarter of 1985 UTA regis tered yet another slight drop (minus 1 • 1 per cent) in carried tonne-kilometres, whereas traffic in tonnes has remained stable. UTA posted a record Ffr 219 million profit in 1984— 3-6 per cent of its turnover, despite an overall drop of 6 • 1 per cent in passenger traffic and a fall of 2-7 per cent in freight compared with 1983. New Fokkers shape up The Fokker 50 and F.lOO are gradually taking shape at the Dutch manufacturer's Schiphol facility. The F.50 above is having its wiring and system components fitted. Its wings, manufactured in Belgium by SABCA, will be fitted next month. Below the F.lOO will shortly be undergoing tests for interference and calibration at Ypenburg military air base once its antenna systems are fitted. AIR TRANSPORT Employees to buy Frontier DENVER ~ Frontier Airlines directors have agreed to an employee buyout. Under an agreement with four of Frontier's five unions the company will first buy back its 12-4 million outstanding shares for $17 a share. After the buyback Frontier will turn over to the participating unions at least 80 per cent of the shares through an employee stock ownership plan. Non-union employees will own about 10 per cent of the company, and management will have the right to acquire about another 10 per cent of the company through stock options. The airline spokes man said that the buy-back plan would be financed by sales of assets including airport terminal "gates", aircraft parts, and some of its fleet which United Airlines is buying. Crandall conversations curbed DALLAS ~ Robert Crandall, who is chair man, president and chief executive officer of American Airlines, has agreed to a settle ment of the 1983 Federal Anti-trust Suit. This had charged Crandall with attempting to make a fares- rise agreement with Howard Putnam, Braniff s boss at the time. The settlement, in which Crandall does not admit having done any wrong, is intended to curtail future discussion with competitors about fares. The proposed consent has been filed in the Federal Court here where the airline is head quartered. It prohibits Cran dall for two years from discussing fares with execu tives of other airlines. An American Airlines spokesman said that the corporation was pleased that the settlement had been reached but declined to make any further comment. FLIGHT International, 3 August 1985 7
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