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Aviation History
2000
2000 - 1257.PDF
Impulse confirms June start for cut-price 717 services PAUL PHELAN/CAIRNS A USTRALIAN regional Impulse Airlines has con firmed long-awaited plans to launch cut-price services in June with one-class Boeing 717 twinjets. The New Soudi Wales-based air line will launch services on Australia's Brisbane-Melbourne- Sydney triangle route, which accounts for about 38% of the country's domestic market. Impulse will lease three 717- 200s from German leasing compa ny Bavaria International and two from part Rolls-Royce-owned leasing firm Pembroke Capital (Flight International, 18-24 January). Deliveries will begin this month, with all five aircraft arriv ing before die end of die year. Impulse managing director Jerry McGowan says the airline will operate the 717s in a single- class 117-seat configuration, offer ing no-conditions fares at half of Ansett's and Qantas' published economy rates. He says his airline is backed by major Australian investment house AMP, an agency of me Singapore Government, and die I long Kong & Shanghai Bank. Impulse has locked horns with die big carriers, complaining to the Australian Consumer Com petition Commission over a Qantas move to introduce jet ser vices to its Newcastle base. The first 717 will be used on regional trunk routes from its Mascot, New South Wales base, with services expected to begin in June. The airline has also announced plans for a second hub at Canberra, backed by an A$ 10 million ($6 mil lion) assistance package from the Australian Capital Territory gov ernment. Canberra's local govern ment assembly has also promised Impulse strong support and finan cial assistance through an A$8 mil lion capital injection and tax relief. McGowan says the airline would develop a new heavy jet mainte nance facility, flight training centre and a reservations call centre at the capital, which would be the hub of a regional route network. Qantas faces a two-pronged attack on its domestic market this year, with Virgin following Impulse with a low-cost operation in Australia. Qantas is eager to begin direct jet services from Newcastle, the industrial centre north of Sydney, where Impulse will establish an operating base. • Aerolineas Baleares (previously called AB Bluestar) has confirmed its Boeing 717 order, with a firm deal for three twinjets, plus 17 options. The Spanish regional start-up, affiliated to Spanair, will take its first 717 in June. • Air Nostrum set for expansion Dash 8 Q300s will be introduced on Air Nostrum s Iberia franchise services EMMA KELLY/VALENCIA AIR NOSTRUM will expand its franchise operations for Spanish major Iberia when it starts to take deliveiy of rccendy ordered Bombardier Canadair Regional Jets(CRJ) Series 200ERsand Dash 8 Q300s late this year. The Valencia, south-east Spain-based regional believes its future success is closely aligned with Iberia, but no equity involvement is required for the relationship to prosper, says Carlos Bertomeu, general manag er and chief executive. Last month, the airline commit ted to firm orders for 29 Q300 turboprops and 15 CRJ200ERs, with options on anodier 40 aircraft, for delivery from late 2000. Finance for the deal is still being arranged, with Bombardier saying it is working closely with Air Nostrum to secure the most favourable package. Air Nostrum operates over 225 flights a day to 40 destinations in Spain, other European points and North Africa with 42 aircraft - 30 Fokker 50s, five ATR 72s, six CRJ- 200F.Rs and a BAC One-Eleven. The new CRJ2 00s are to be used on international routes from Madrid and Barcelona operated for Iberia. They will replace Fokker 50s on longer domestic routes, such as Bilbao-Seville, says Berto- meu, while the 50-seat Q300s will replace Fokker 50s operated by Air Nostrum and its 100%-owned Dutch regional Denim Air. The Spanish regional has the ATR 72s on lease for five years, but their replacement with 70-seat Q400s is likely, says Bertomeu. Air Nostrum is also interested in' moving to larger CRJs. "Without any doubt we are interested in die 70-seat CRJ," he says. • MARKETPLACE ++ Air Seychelles has concluded a deal with International Lease Finance (ILFC) to lease a single Boeing 737-700 to operate ser vices to Nairobi, Johannesburg, Dubai, in South Africa and Mumbai in India. ++ Further to last week's report. City Bird has taken an ex- Istanbul Airlines 737-400 on lease from GE Capital Aviation Services, which will also supply two new -800s to the Belgian air line in May 2001 and March 2002. ++ On behalf of Mesa Airlines. Raytheon has sold a Beech 1900D to Quito-based Saereo, to provide transport for oil companies in the Amazon region of Ecuador. Saereo already operates a 1900C. ++ Transbrasil has taken delivery of an ex-TAP Boeing 737-300 on a five-year lease arranged by Aircraft Leasing & Management. ++ Scan dinavian Airlines has signed a firm contract with Airbus for up to 39 aircraft, including six A330- 300s. four A340-300S (plus seven A330/ A340 options) and 12 International Aero Engines V2500- powered A321-100s (plus 10 options). Deliveries will be between 2001 and 2004. ++ South African carrier Intensive Air has acquired a second Fokker F28 Mk4000 from Scandinavian Air lines, in a deal arranged by ALM. The twinjets have been acquired forthe airline's expanding contract and ad hoc charter business. ++ All Nippon Airways (ANA) is acquiring three Boeing 767- 300ERs on lease next January for its new regional carrier. It will take over some of ANA's short-haul routes and is expected to serve major Chinese cities initially with South-East Asian destinations fol lowing later next year. ++ British World Airlines will take a third Boeing 737-300 in May. The ex- Braathens aircraft will be leased from Babcock and Brown and offered for ad hoc charters or wet- leases. A fourth 737-300 is planned for 2001 and two more in 2002, to enable the airline's BAC One-Elevens to be phased out. ++ Polynesian Airlines will take a second 737-800 on 10-year lease from ILFC in September 2001. FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 18 - 24 April 2000 13
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