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Aviation History
2004
2004-01 - 0016.PDF
AIR TRANSPORT EXPANSION Vietnam set to double fleet size Fast-expanding Vietnam Airlines has set an informal target to double its fleet to 70 aircraft by 2010, as it forecasts continuing strong traffic growth, writes Nicholas lonides. The airline said last week that it expects its fleet of 34 aircraft to increase to 70 at the end of the decade. A senior airline execu tive confirms the target, but says it is only a "rough plan" that is subject to change. He adds that the plan calls for a fleet of around 50 aircraft by 2005. This may include Vietnam Airlines' first dedicated freighters. Vietnam Airlines' fleet now comprises four Boeing 777- 200ERs, seven Boeing 767-300s, 10 Airbus A320s, three Airbus A321s, eight ATR 72s and two Fokker 70s. The carrier has firm orders for two more 777s and five A321s. In August it issued tenders for leases on two more 777s, as well as on one more ATR 72 and another A321. The carrier is also considering ultra-long-range aircraft for use on non-stop services to the US West Coast. Vietnam and the USA signed an air-services agreement in December allow ing for flights between the two countries. Vietnam Airlines says it plans to introduce one-stop services to San Francisco early in 2005. Vietnam Airlines carried 4.05 million passengers in 2003, rep resenting an increase of just 1 % on the 2002 figure - well below the annual 30% increase the carrier recorded in the early 1990s and the annual 15% increase since then. The carrier was hurt in 2003 by the outbreak of the SARS virus between March and July, but in recent months has reported a return to strong growth. The airline says it expects to carry around 5 million passengers over the next 12 months, which would represent a year-on-year increase of more than 20%. RENEWAL VLADIMIR KARNOZOV / MOSCOW Aeroflot begins updating ageing Russian-built fleet Carrier completes deal for six ll-96s to join Western types, as Soviet aircraft are retired With the renewal of its Western air craft fleet under way, Aeroflot Russian Airlines has began an over haul of its Russian-built inventory. The carrier has finalised a long- awaited deal to purchase six addi tional Ilyushin Il-96s and upgrade in-service aircraft, coinciding with the retirement of several fleets of older Soviet-era types. General director Valery Okulov signed the formal contract for six new Il-96-300s on 30 December. Deliveries will begin in mid-2005. The aircraft are being leased from Ilyushin-Finance (IFC), which is funding their construction at the VASO factory in Voronezh. Okulov says the signing of the final contract with IFC came after the two sides agreed terms on two issues that had been holding up the deal - specifications for the avionics and cabin interior. The air craft will be the first Russian airlin ers to feature new cocoon-type business seats, which will be arranged at 58in (147cm) pitch. The deal includes the upgrade of Aeroflot's six in-service Il-96-300s with the new cabin from later this year. These aircraft will remain in service alongside a largely Western fleet that will comprise Airbus A320 family aircraft and Boeing 767s once the current renewal pro gramme is completed. The phase-out of the Soviet-era Ilyushin 11-76 freighter was com pleted at the end of 2003. Six of Aeroflot's 10 Il-76s will be scrapped and the rest sold. These ageing freighters have effectively been replaced by McDonnell Douglas DC-10-40FS - four of which are operated on trans-Siberian routes between Europe and China, Japan, and South Korea. From next year, the airline plans to begin replacing the DC-lOs with Boeing MD-llFs. Next on the agenda for retire ment is the Ilyushin 11-86 wide- body, which the airline is expected to phase out by the end of the year. Although it has 14 Il-86s, the oper ational fleet numbers less than six aircraft. These are used during the carrier's summer season and during new year holidays. This will leave Aeroflot with 33 older Russian-built aircraft - 13 Tupolev Tu-134s (including two VIP-configured aircraft) and 20 Tupolev Tu-154Ms. These are expected to remain in service for another three to five years. DELIVERY Ex-Swiss Saab 2000s head for eastern Europe Two eastern European carriers - Carpatair and Moldavian Airlines - have each added ex-Swiss International Air Lines Saab 2000s to their fleets. Timisoara, Romania- based Carpatair is initially taking two Saab 2000s as part of a plan to operate six by March alongside its Saab 340s. Moldavian, based at Chisinau, Moldova, has wet-leased one aircraft (right) from Swiss to meet increased demand between its base and Budapest. STRATEGY Biman drops turboprop plan for additional F28s Biman Bangladesh Airlines has dropped a plan to modernise its domestic fleet with ATR or Bombardier turboprops and is instead seeking to expand its Fokker F28 Mk4000 fleet by two. The state-owned Bangladeshi flag carrier has issued international tenders calling for offers on two F28 Mk4000 twinjets, which it hopes to use on domestic flights. Offers are due by 17 January. Biman plans to use the additional F28s to replace two BAe ATP turbo- props, both produced in 1990. Its three existing F28 Mk4000s were built between 1977 and 1981. The carrier has been trying to sell its ATPs for some time and local reports say a tentative agreement has been reached with an unidenti fied UK company. Biman had previously said it planned to dispose of its F28s and was seeking to lease or purchase three ATR 72-500s or Bombardier Dash 8 Q400s. The airline has faced intense domestic competition from privately owned GMG Airlines, which operates Dash 8s. 14 13-19 JANUARY 2004 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.flightinternational.com
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