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Aviation History
1996
1996 - 2818.PDF
MIR TRANSPORT NEWS IN BRIEF • AFRICAN FOKKERS Ethiopian Airlines received its first of five Fokker 50s on 2 October. The aircraft were ordered in 1995, to replace ATR 42s. Linhas Aereas de Mozambique (LAM) has lea sed an ex-Royal Swazi Air ways Fokker 100. LAM will use the aircraft to increase frequencies on its domestic and regional services. • INDIAN SALES Indian Airlines has now dis posed of six of its Boeing 737- 200s, with the sale of two 1977-build aircraft for $3.3 million each to Pacific Av iation Holding of the USA. The airline has already sold 737s to Blue Dart and Sky- line-NEPC. • AIR INDIA OFFER In an effort to secure Air India as a customer for its MD-XX, McDonnell Doug las (MDC) has offered the airline MD-11 s as an interim measure. Airbus, Boeing and MDC are vying for the air line's long-awaited long- haul, medium-capacity, air liner order. Virgin evaluates widebodies to replace ageing 747 Classics ANDREW DOYLE/LONDON VIRGIN ATLANTIC Air ways has outlined plans to phase out its fleet of six ageing Boeing 747 Classics by 2000, with the acquisition of a fresh batch of widebodied aircraft for delivery from mid-1998. The UK carrier is looking to "... bring in aircraft over a two-year period to replace the Classic", says Conrad Clifford, Virgin's general manager, commercial. The airline is evaluating the Airbus A340-600, a higher-capacitv derivative of the A340-300, and the Boeing 777-300 as replacements for its five 747- 200s and one -100, says Clifford. The yet-to-be-launched A340- 600 would provide around 30% more seating capacity and im proved unit costs than Virgin's existing A340-300s, and retain a high degree of systems and cockpit commonality. Virgin already holds options on two 777s for delivery in 1998, but believes that the stretched -300 ver sion will not initially offer sufficient range for routes such as London- Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Virgin will take delivery of two additional 747-400s and three A340-300s in 1997, as it continues to expand its network. The leased 747-400s will be delivered in February and June, and deployed on routes from London to New York Kennedy and San Francisco, says Clifford, bring ing the total -400 fleet to five. Airbus will deliver to Virgin in April two ex-developmental 1992- build A3 40-3 00s, which had previ ously been earmarked for Caribbean carrier BWIA. Together with one new-build aircraft for delivery the following month, these will allow Virgin to increase its recently launched Johannesburg service to six times a week, cater for new services between London Gatwick and Newark and Los Angeles, and replace a Boeing 767-300ER, leased from Martinair, on the Manchester-Orlando route. • Manufacturers'forecasts chart bright future for cargo aircraft BOEING AND McDonnell Douglas (MDC) are forecast ing strong growth in the air-cargo market, with the world's freighter fleet expected to double over the next 20 years. MDC's predictions are slightly more optimistic than Boeing's, with an annual growth rate in air cargo of 7.9%, compared with Boeing's assessment of 6.6%. Aircraft num bers are similarly adjusted. Boeing predicts the total world freighter fleet will grow to 2,261 aircraft by 2015, of which some 1,400 will be converted passenger aircraft. MDC, which forecasts to 2014, believes that the fleet total will rise to 2,720 aircraft. Both estimates start fromabase of 1,200-1,300 air craft in the current world fleet. The manufacturers also agree that large freighters in the Boeing 747/MDC MD-11-size category will account for some of the biggest growth. Boeing predicts that, if it includes its 767 in this category, demand will be for 600 additional aircraft. MDC puts the figure at a more optimistic 820. "We're upbeat because the whole market has turned around," comments Bruce Dennis, Boeing vice-president of marketing. He adds that the biggest growth is expected to be in the international- express part of the business. Companies such as FedEx, DHL and UPS are expected to account for up to 3 7 % of the market (in rev enue tonne-kilometres) by 20IS, compared to around 5% now. • Maersk ponders Fokker options MAERSK MR is examining various options for the renewal of its 50-seat Fokker 50 turboprops, which include the acquisition of a regional-jet type. The Copenhagen, Denmark- based airline, a division of one of world's largest shipping companies AP Moller, operates seven leased Fokker 50s alongside its fleet of Boeing 737-300s and-500s. The airline has already begun replacing the Fokkers on some routes with the 737-500, and recently returned two of the turbo- props to the lessor. These have since been placed with the airline's partner, Estonian Air. According to Maersk Air's senior vice-president commercial Jorn Eriksen, the remaining Fokker 50 leases are due to expire over the next three years, and the airline must decide if and how the turbo- props should be replaced. "We could completely phase out turboprop operations as the [Fokker] leases expire. However, we are also looking at another turboprop type for the smaller domestic routes," says Eriksen, adding that discussions are in progress with various regional manufacturers. Eriksen believes that a 50-seat jet-powered airliner could offer the airline advantages. "The regional jets are an option, and would be better for our longer, thinner, routes," he says. While a decision on the new air craft is not imminent, Eriksen says that the subject will have to be examined within the next 12 months as more Fokker 50 leases are set to expire. • 10 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 23 - 29 October 1996
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