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Aviation History
1997
1997 - 0175.PDF
Bombardier gets Dash 8400 order boost from Tyrolean AUSTRIA'S Tyrolean Airways has become the second European customer, after Wid- eroe, for the high-speed, 70-seat de Havilland Dash 8-400 with an $83 million order for four aircraft. The airline, which has also taken an additional four options, will take delivery of the four firm Dash 8s between late 1999 and early 2001. Innsbruck-based Tyrolean already operates 37-seat Dash 8- 100s and 50-seat -300s, 50-seat Canadair Regional Jets and 80-seat Fokker 70s. The Dash 8-400s will be used to replace some of the air line's existing smaller aircraft, and for growth into new markets. The Tyrolean order is for the 72- seat -400B version of the aircraft, which offers slightly greater pas senger accommodation than the 70-seat -400A designed for the North American market. Fritz Feitl, Tyrolean's president and chief executive officer, says that the Dash 8-400 order comes as a result ofa requirement for a larger sized turboprop to operate its feed er routes from Vienna, and that Canadair's similarly sized stretched Regional Jet (RJ), the CRJ-X, was not considered: "We have a yield problem [on the feeder routes], and need the lower seat-kilometre costs of a turboprop," he says. "On the more highly competitive routes, passengers clearly prefer jets, and so we utilise the RJ and Fokker 70." Feitl says that the airline does not have a requirement for a larger Regional Jet at the moment "...we are satisfied with the Fokker 70, and are in the market for another example," he says. "If in the future we are forced to dispose of the Fokker 70, then we would consider the CRJ-X," he adds. The deal takes firm orders for the -400 to 15 from four customers. The first is scheduled to be rolled out at de Havilland's Downsview, Ontario, plant in November with the first flight following in December. First deliveries to launch customer Great China Airlines are targeted for early 1999. Approval granted for Slovakian airline ANEW Slovakian national air line is to be set up, operating a fleet of Russian airliners, following government approval of the plans. The new carrier, named Slovenske Aeroline, is expected to begin operations by the end of the year, initially concentrating on ser vices between Slovakia and Russia, using Yakovlev airliners leased from the Slovakian Government. The aircraft will apparently be acquired as part of an exchange deal with Russia, to pay off Russian debts accumulated during the Communist regime. The new airline is being formed by a consortium, with partners including a Slovak tourist organi sation, WILI (28%), a division of Devin Banka, the bankwhich over sees Slovak-Russian trade (3 3.5%), and a group of partially state-run Slovak companies (34.2%). The remaining shareholding will be taken by the Russian design bureau Yakovlev. Viliam Veterska, a direc tor of WILI, is the president of the new airline. It is planned that the carrier will launch operations between Slovakia's capital Bratislava and Moscow, while charter flights will be flown from Russia to Slovakia's ski resorts. Veterska says that the airline will also operate services to Mediterranean holiday resorts, including Turkey and Cyprus, and to Israel. Q Polar Logistics serves Antarctica with Hercules POLAR LOGISTICS HAS started direct passenger and cargo flights between Cape Town, South Africa and Queen Maud Land, Antarctica, using a Lockheed Martin L-100-30 Hercules leased from Southern Air Transport. The 4,230km (2,300nm) flight takes around nine hours, carrying a 6.8t pay- load. Polar, which specialises in "high- latitude" operations, initially plans to operate the service during the Antarctic summer between November and February, but says that this could be extended if there is sufficient demand. The company has already carried cargo, mail and passengers for the governments of India, Norway and Russia, and supported two private expeditions. NEWS IN BRIEF • JAL ADDS FLIGHTS Japan Airlines (JAL) is to introduce an increase in flights to Asian and domestic destinations to meet growing competition. From April, JAL plans to add two new additional weekly flights from Nagoya to both Manila and Singapore, and one more to Bangkok. JAL's fleet of air craft will increase in size to 127 aircraft, with nine air craft scheduled for delivery by the end of the year, and four aircraft due to be retired —two 747s and two DC-10s. • DRAGON AIRBUS DragonairofHongKong has confirmed an order for a sixth Rolls-Royce Trent 700-pow- ered Airbus A330-300. The new aircraft is scheduled for delivery in late 1998. The air line recently ordered two more Airbus A3 20s, with options for another five, and it is to lease a fifth A3 30 from International Lease Finance. • SOUTHWEST HUSHES AvAero has been selected by SouthwestAirlines to supply Stage 3 hushkits for 20 Boeing 737-200s. The air line's aU-73 7 fleet includes 50 737-200s, and options have been placed for 14 more shipsets. • AA PILOTS COOL-OFF American Airlines and the Allied Pilots Association are in a 30-day "cooling off" peri od declared by the National Mediation Board (NMB). If no labour agreement is reached by 15 February, APA is free to strike, while American could declare a lock-out and unilaterally implement new pay and work rules. As well as rejecting American's offer of stock options and a 5% raise over four years in exchange for productivity improvements, APA also refused a provision allowing 50-seat regional jets to be flown by pilots repre sented by another union. FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 22 - 28 January 1997
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