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Aviation History
1999
1999 - 3164.PDF
Boeing to study further 777 stretch ANDREW DOYLE/BRUSSELS BOEING IS studying the possi bility of stretching the 777- 300Xto accommodate up to 60 more passengers. The move comes at the request of some of the air lines evaluating the twinjet as a replacement for the 747-400. "We're listening to the airlines and asking the question: 'Can we do it and how much will it cost?'," says Tim Fehr, Boeing Com mercial Airplanes Group vice- president airplane systems. Low-level engineering work is understood to have been under way since die idea was first dis cussed at die Paris air show in June. Fehr emphasises diat the studies FLIGHT GARBTH BURGESS 99 0 8m 0 25ft Boeing 777-300 Boeing 777-300X stretch An 8m stretch of the 111-iOOX would boost capacity by 60 passengers are at die feasibility stage and no proposals have been provided to airlines. The extra capacity is believed to have been requested by a handful of Asian airlines looking at using the 777-300Xas a 747-400 replacement on routes to Europe. In its current configuration, the -3 00X offers the same range as die 416-seat747-400butcarries 50-60 fewer passengers. To increase capacity by 60 pas sengers, it is estimated diat Boeing would need to stretch die aircraft by around 8m (26ft). The 777-300 is already die longest airliner in production, and dlis stretch would increase overall lengdi to more than 80m. A modest double stretch of die 777 is understood to be technically feasible widiout changes to the wing or landing gear, though slighdy uprated engines would be required. The nominal 13,500km (7,300nm) range of the 777-300X could probably be maintained, but any reduction could be offset by the hoped-for availability of shorter routes between Europe and Asia over Russia. Boeing hopes to launch its long- delayed 777-200X/300X long- range derivatives early next year. • SAA targets Nigeria for sub-Saharan alliance HILKABIRNS/CAPETOWN SOUTH AFRICAN Airways (SAA) aims to become die guid ing force in an alliance of sub- Saharan airlines, as it negotiates to acquire a major shareholding in Nigeria Airways. The moves come as die Soudi African carrier pre pares to relaunch a competition to upgrade its short- and long-haul fleet. SAA is in discussions to acquire up to a 60% shareholding in the Nigerian national carrier. It is also awaiting Kampala's final approval on the sale of 49% of Uganda Airlines, which has hit problems. Coleman Andrews, SAA chief executive, says diat the airline is also in various stages of negotiation with the governments and major carriers in Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Ghana and Cote d'lvoire. Talks are focused either on com mercial relationships or equity shareholding, whichever suits die particular situation, says Andrews. "In the Gase of Nigeria, we have talked about acquiring 40% to 60% and diey have been very can did about wanting an equity part ner to turn around die airline," he adds. Meanwhile, SAA is about to begin a long-term fleet study, cov ering short- and long-haul types as it seeks to rationalise its fleet. Ultra long-haul aircraft types, including the A340-500/600 and Boeing 777, will be studied. Its ear lier order for up to seven 7 7 7-2 00s was swapped for 747-400s. "An important part of our strat egy is having an aircraft that has somewhat smaller gauge, and the range to allow us to reach key mar kets in Europe, die USA and Asia," says Andrews. The strategy study, which is also aimed at replacing die airline's fleet of diree Boeing 767- 200s and eleven 747 Classics (-200s, -300s and SPs), is expected to be completed by next July. The short-haul fleet evaluation is more advanced, widi SAA con sidering new and used aircraft for delivery from next year. The airline operates 12 Boeing 737-200s and seven Airbus A3 2 0s, and is evaluat ing the acquisition of used 737- 300/400s, new 737-700/800s, or new/used A3 2 0 family aircraft. • See Business, P24. USA aims to extend open skies arrangements round the world THE US GOVERNMENT plans to use a forthcoming meeting to spark discussions on broadening the scope of current bilateral open skies agreements into regional or global arrange ments. It has previously been reluc tant to do diis. The gadiering of international transport and aviation authorities will take place in Chicago on 6-7 December. Speaking to Flight International, US Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater, says: "The objective of die meeting is to begin a dia logue looking beyond open skies and die bilateral architecture that govern those relations so far. We're looking at multilateral, fully open and seamless system for the world. "This is not going to be an American plan, we're just provid ing the table to debate, discuss and deliberate." Washington has invited all 36 countries with which die USA cur- rendy has open skies agreements, along with around 70 nations with liberalised bilateral air service arrangements, to its Aviation in the 21st Century - Beyond Open Skies conference. High on the list of attendees for the meeting are the UK and Brazil, with which the USA is trying to hammer out liberalised agree ments. The USA claims it wants to ele vate individual open skies agree ments to a regional level in eidier Europe or South America. The European Union is already seeking to override bilateral agreements and negotiate for its member coun tries as a bloc. "We'll probably focus regionally on Mercursor member countries," says Slater, speaking after signing an open skies agreement with Chile. The USA has already signed an agreement with Argentina to start from next September. Other Mercursor members include Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay. The USA also has agreements with Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and Peru and has opened contacts widi Venezuela. This range could be expanded to include die North American Free Trade Association, where the USA has an agreement "moving towards a full open skies agreement" with Canada and die world's biggest liberalised codeshare deal with Mexico. • FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 27 October - 2 November 1999 5
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