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Aviation History
2002
2002 - 1964.PDF
AIR TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT ORDER ANZ A320 buy prompts engine battle CFM International and International Aero Engines are squaring up for a major engine battle at Air New Zealand (ANZ), following the carrier's 4 July announcement of plans to acquire up to 35 Airbus A320 family aircraft. The all-Boeing operator has decided to acquire Airbus air craft for the first time. A key element in Airbus's victory was ANZ's desire to expand the capabilities of its engineering unit to include Airbus types to take advantage of available third-party work. Deliveries of the initial batch of 15 aircraft are due between October 2003 and 2006, five of which will be leased from GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS). The lease deal appears to hand an advantage to the GE/Snecma joint venture CFMI as the GECAS aircraft will almost certainly be equipped with CFM56S. An engine selection is there fore outstanding for the remaining 10 orders and pur chase rights on 20 aircraft. The airline has the right to switch its A320 commitments to the A319 orA321 before delivery. The 10 aircraft on firm order, plus a simulator and spares, are being acquired "via a combina tion of purchase and leasing agreements still to be finally determined within a capital investment budget in excess of $400 million", says ANZ. The A320s will replace ANZ's four Boeing 767-200ERs and nine of its 14 Boeing 737-300s on regional international routes. These aircraft are to be phased out between September 2003 and December 2006. Domestic routes will continue to be flown with 737s. ANZ, which was renation- alised earlier this year to save it from financial collapse, says the acquisition will not have a detri mental effect on its balance sheet because "financing will be secured against the aircraft". AIRLINE EXPANSION MICHAEL PHELAN / SOUTHAMPTON Aer Arann furthers its international ambitions with Southampton link Aer Arann Express launched services from Cork to Southampton via Bristol last week using a 66-seat ATR 72, following the inauguration of Cork-Birmingham services last month. The Dublin-based airline has ambitious expansion plans for its new international network. It operates four ATR 42s alongside its two ATR 72s. "Next year, 1 foresee the potential to grow to nine ATRs, adding new Cork to UK routes, and linking Cork with northern France," says managing director Padraig O'Ceidigh. Focusing on Cork to UK routes, outside Aer Lingus's and Ryanair's mainly Dublin-based services, Aer Arann Express's transition to inter national operations has been accel erated by the loss of two of its five subsidised public service obligation contracts to western Ireland. The contract for the Dublin to Sligo and Dublin to Donegal routes will be transferred to Euroceltic Airways on 22 July. Meanwhile, Euroceltic, which has its operating base in London Luton, is flying a leased Fokker 50 on its Waterford to Luton route. To revive its Waterford to Liverpool route, four ex-Aer Lingus Fokker 50s have been acquired to supplement its two Fokker F27s. Euroceltic chairman Noel Hanley says that the airline is examining further Fokker 50 acquisitions and expansion next year into France and the UK. Aer Arann Express is eyeing more ATRs for international expansion FLEET RENEWAL VLADIMIR KARNOZOV / MOSCOW Aerof lot told to buy Russian Allocation in state budget to underwrite interest rate is cut for domestic aircraft leasing The Russian government has advised Aeroflot Russian Airlines to think again about its fleet-renewal plans and take "a closer look" at indigenous airliners as an alterna tive to Airbus and Boeing aircraft. Aeroflot's passenger fleet includes 27 Airbus and Boeing types - 11 Airbus A310s, 10 Boeing 737-400s, four 767-300ERs and two 777- 200ERs. The airline is also acquiring four McDonnell Douglas DC-10-40 freighters for its cargo arm. Discussions have been under way for some time with Airbus and Boeing about the acquisition of new narrowbody and widebody aircraft to update and expand its fleet. The airline has just received permission to renew its Western- built fleet, but with no more than 27 Western aircraft. "We can not put our own indus try at risk," says Russia's minister of transportation Sergei Frank, who also chairs Aeroflot's board of direc tors. He wants the airline to recon sider "the best indigenous types cur rently available" - for example, the Tupolev Tu-204/214 twin jet. Aeroflot's recent board of direc tors did not discuss the acquisition of the proposed Airbus and Boeing aircraft as it was expected to do. It was re-elected last month and now has fewer supporters of Western- built aircraft. Efforts are under way to make the acquisition of Western aircraft less attractive, as the government looks to revive the local industry. The Russian government used to grant Aeroflot an exemption from paying import and value added tax on imported aircraft, but now the flag carrier can only hope for reduced tax. But officials are stress ing industry protection measures need to be balanced to ensure Aeroflot's fleet strategy does not make it uncompetitive with other international airlines. Meanwhile, Russian premier Mikhail Kasyanov has ordered an annual allocation of 500 million roubles ($15.9 million) in the state budget to help Russian airlines lease CIS-built airliners. The money will underwrite a move by commercial banks to slash the interest rate charged on opening credits for aircraft leases. Presidential airline GTK Rossiya has already benefited from the funding, doubling its Tu-214 order with Kazan-based factory KAPO to four aircraft. The additional aircraft could be configured with a VIP layout. Russia's second largest airline, GUAP Pulkovo, has expressed inter est in buying up to 20 Tupolev Tu-334s to replace its 11 Tu-134 twinjets. General director Boris Demchenko says that although it could not afford a direct purchase, it is prepared to take aircraft from the first production on batch lease. 10 9-15 JULY 2002 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.flightinternational.com
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