Air Madagascar will phase out its Boeing 747 in April, and replace it on international routes with a Boeing 767.
The national carrier has been operating the 747, a -200 Combi configured in an all-passenger layout, on routes to Europe since 1979. Fortis Aviation has been contracted to remarket the 747, as the airline revamps long-haul operations as part of its re-organisation for privatisation, which is expected to be completed by mid-1999.
Joint director general, James Andrianalisoa, says that the airline has a deal with Boeing to take a new 767-300ER in April 1999, and will lease a similar, secondhand, aircraft from this April on an interim basis for 12 months from GE Capital Aviation Services.
"We will revamp our flights to Europe, with Munich and Rome, which are now served by the Paris flights, having direct services from Antananarivo," says Andrianalisoa.
Air Madagascar, which has a short-haul fleet of Boeing 737-200/300s, Aero International (Regional)ATR 42s and British Aerospace 748 turboprops, may have a requirement for a second 767 in the longer term.
Source: Flight International
