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Aviation History
1998
1998 - 1431.PDF
Cathay may streamline its 111fleet, with the emphasis on the larger -300 (above) at the expense of the -200 Cathay rethinks 777-200 fleet PAUL LEWIS/SEATTLE HONG KONG'S Cathay Pacific Airways plans to review the future use of its four Boeing 777-200s, following the introduction of the stretch -300 into service. The carrier is also dis posing of an initial two surplus Boeing 747-200s to Virgin Atlantic Airways in an effort to rationalise types and restrict capacity growth in the face of the continuing slump in regional Asian traffic. The airline has long stated a preference for the larger 777-300 over the -200 for use of on its short and medium range trunk routes within Asia. The airline placed an order for 11 of the initial 777-200s in 1992, but elected to take only four, switching orders for the remainder in 1995 for the follow- on stretch derivative. "The 777-2()()s are not a great fit. If anything went, it would be the -200s...I think its a judgement to make a year from now when we have got a fleet of 11 aircraft and we can see if we're using them proper ly," explains Cathay chairman Peter Sutch. Cathay views the 3 36-seat capac ity 777-200 as too close in size to 320-seat Airbus A330-300s. It uses die -200s mainly on slightly longer routes to Dubai, Bahrain and Australia, but it has not invested (as it did with its new 367-seat -300s) in an all-class inflight entertainment system for the twinjet. ' It has opted for the 263,300kg (580,0001b) reduced maximum take-off weight (MTOW) version of the -300^ powered by 374kN (84,000lb)-thrust Rolls-Royce Trent 800 engines. A "paper change" to the full 299,600kg A lTOW and a throttle push would enable the stretch to operate on the -200's routes, provided there were sufficient demand, savs Cathay. The 777-300 will initially replace five ol Cathay's seven 747- 200s from June, two of which are being leased to Virgin Atlantic for five years, "subject to final agree ment", says Sutch. The R-R RB211-524D4-powered jets will supplement five similar -200s which are being purchased by the airline from Air New Zealand. It had originally been intended to increase frequencies by operat ing all 13 747-200/300s alongside the 777s, and then replace them with 10 -300s on option. "The downturn has meant that we're not going to do that so quickly," says Sutch. Instead, Cathay has reached an understanding with Boeing and Airbus for a "couple of years exten sion" on its 777 and six 747-400 and nine A330/A340 options. Disposal of the 747-200s will enable Cathay to reduce projected capacity growth from 9% to 6.5%. In addition to the 777-300s, a final four \340-300s and one A3 30-300 are scheduled for delivery by October 1999. • Ethiopian leases A340 for network expansion ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES is boosting its long haul fleet with the introduction of a leased Airbus Industrie A340-300 which it will use on its new transatlantic operations as well on existing ser vices to Europe. The A3 40-3 00, which has been operated by Gulf Air since 1994, will be delivered at the end of June on three year lease from Airbus Industrie financial Services. The Ethiopian carrier is about to introduce its first transatlantic ser vices between Rome, Italy, and Washington DC - as an extension of its service from capital Addis Ababa. The A340 will be operated on the tu ice weekly new service, as well as to European destinations, alongside the airline's existing licet of Boeing 757s and 767s. Ethiopian has an all-Boeing jet fleet, but has been studying pro posals from both Boeing and Airbus Industrie for its fleet renew al programme. It is not clear whether this move signals a move towards .Airbus widebodied tj pes in the longer term. Ll MARKETPLACE ++ TWA has contracted to lease three Pratt & Whitney PW2000- powered Boeing 757-200s from International Lease Finance (ILFC) for delivery in 1999 and 2000. ++ Air New Zealand has contracted to lease a new Boeing 747-400, powered by General Electric CF6-80C2 engines, from ILFC. The aircraft will be delivered on ten year lease in October 1999. ++ Premiair, the Danish sister air line to UK charter carrier Airtours, will add two 363-seat Airbus A330- 200s in late 1999. The aircraft will be used on long haul flights, replacing a leased Lockheed L-1011 TriStar 500. ++ Rio-Sul has leased a Boeing 737-500 from Sunrock Aircraft for delivery in June. ++ Qantas has leased a sec ond Boeing 747 classic to Air Pacific, and has confirmed plans to sell its four ex-Australian Airlines A300B4s by the end of 1998. The airline is also planning to order another new Boeing 767-300ER. boosting its backlog for the type to three. ++ Delta Airlines has ordered four P&W PW2000-pow- ered Boeing 757200s, for delivery between August and November 1999, and a single CF6-80C2-pow- ered Boeing 767-300ER for deliv ery in April 1999. Meanwhile, Delta Express is taking five more 737-200s from its parent through to the end of 1998, boosting its fleet to 33. ++ CityBird has added a second used 767-300ER from AWAS. ++ US start-up WinAir has arranged to acquire an ex-British Airways Boeing 737-200Adv from Boullioun Aviation Services, which will be equipped with Nordam Stage 3 hushkits following delivery in June. ++ Amerijet International has acquired an ex- Continental Micronesia Boeing 727-200Adv from Intrepid Avia tion, boosting its 727 fleet to 10 aircraft. Two additional 727s will be added in 1999 from the same source. ++ Airbus Industrie has taken orders from undisclosed customers for one A320, two A321s and two A330s. ++ Air One has leased an ex-Lufthansa Boeing 737-400 from Swissair's sister company Flightlease. FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL June 3 - 9 1998 13
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