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Aviation History
2002
2002 - 2362.PDF
AIR TRANSPORT ORDERS Boeing beats Airbus in key campaigns Boeing has beaten Airbus to two key fleet re-equipment cam paigns, winning deals for a total of 27 aircraft from Ethiopian Airlines and Aeromexico. Ethiopian will take six 737- 700s and six 767-300ERs over the next four years. The new air craft will replace the African carrier's 737-200s and 767- 200s. Six aircraft will be acquired through export credit guarantee lease arrangement, while the other six will be taken on operating lease. A decision on engine supplier for the 767s is expected shortly. The airline says it has also taken options for a further eight air craft, including five 737s and three 777s. "Phase-in of the air craft will start within six to nine months," the airline says. Airbus and Boeing have been fighting for the deal for several years, with Airbus offering the A319andA330-200.The Ethiopian carrier was thought to favour the US manufacturer for fleet commonality reasons (Flight International, 14-20 August, 2001). Meanwhile, Aeromexico has selected the 737-700 over the A320 to replace 15 McDonnell Douglas DC-9s, signing a deal for 15 aircraft. Deliveries will begin in August 2003 and conclude at the end of 2004. The airline says that the deal includes an undisclosed number of 737-700 options, which could be exercised as part of the next phase of Aeromexico's fleet-renewal plan. The next phase will include the evaluation of potential Boeing MD-80 replacements, with more 737s a likely option because they would ensure fleet commonality. • Africa One took delivery of the first of two McDonnell Douglas DC-9-50s on 24 July for its regional operations. The acquisition allows the Entebbe, Uganda-based carrier to launch a daily service to Nairobi from mid-August. DELIVERY Northwest takes PW2000-powered 757-300 Northwest Airlines has put the first Pratt & Whitney PW2000-powered Boeing 757-300 into service from its Minneapolis St Paul hub, following its delivery last month. The airline is launch customer for the P&W-powered version of the aircraft and has 16 on order to replace its McDonnell Douglas DC-10-40S. The PW2000-powered stretched 757 received US Federal Aviation Administration certifica tion in June. AIRCRAFT ACQUISITION PINO MODOLA / GENOA & JUSTIN WASTNAGE / LONDON Interim Q400 helps Blue Line as deal is finalised Italian start-up gets temporary aircraft as it works out contract details with Bombardier Italian start-up Blue Line is finalis ing a deal with Bombardier for three Dash 8 Q400s as it prepares to launch regional services from southern Italy. Bombardier says there are still some contractual details to be worked out. The deal includes the supply of an interim aircraft. Blue Line says it expects to take delivery of an ex-Scandinavian Commuter aircraft later this month, following overhaul by British European Aviation Services in the UK, to enable services to start in early Sep tember. This interim aircraft will be replaced by the first of three Q400s directly from Bombardier at the end of October. The second will follow in January and the third in April. The airline will operate the 78- seaters from the Trapani air force base in western Sicily to Florence, Palermo, Rome Fiumicino and the Italian island of Pantelleria off the Tunisian coast. A hotelier from Pantelleria is a majority shareholder in the new venture and the carrier sees "signif icant potential for cheaper fares" to the island, which is served only by Italian regional Gandalf Airlines using a Fairchild Dornier 328 turboprop. Blue Line is aiming to double its €1 million ($990,000) investment from businesses on the island in return for bringing in more tourists. The company expects to reach €8 million in capital by year-end. Blue Line executive Dario Catalisano says the airline should start charter flights to western European destinations after it takes delivery of the third aircraft. The carrier had previously evaluated ATR 72-5O0s, but opted for the Bombardier aircraft because of its greater payload and range - 2,520km (l,360nm) - and better field performance. The strip at Pantelleria is 1,600m (5,250ft) long. Planned future destinations include the Italian island of Elba. AIRLINE LAUNCH Japan independent starts services SkynetAsia Airways, Japan's latest independent airline, launched services on 1 August. The carrier won final operating approvals from the transport min istry on 31 July, allowing it to start five-times-daily Boeing 737-400 services between Miyazaki and Tokyo. Its air operator's certificate was secured in May. SkynetAsia plans to increase ser vices to Tokyo from its Miyazaki base to six times daily from next month using its two 737-400s. It hopes to add services to Fukuoka and Osaka next year. The carrier is competing with the three Japanese majors ANA, Japan Airlines (JAL) and Japan Air System (JAS), largely on price. SkynetAsia says one-way fares for Miyazaki- Tokyo services are around a third lower than those of its rivals. Competition is expected to increase in October, when JAL and JAS begin to merge their opera tions. Those carriers, as well as ANA, have already announced plans to reduce fares for many of their domestic services. SkynetAsia was established as Pan Asia Airways in 1997 and has worked on launch plans ever since. It is the fourth independent airline to have been launched since 1998. The other independents are Skymark Airlines, Air Do - also known as Hokkaido International Airlines - and Fair Inc. 10 6-12 AUGUST 2002 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.flightinternational.com
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