ATLANTIC SOUTHEAST Airlines is to return its five leased British Aerospace 146s, after deliveries of Bombardier Canadair Regional Jets (CRJs) begin in August. The Atlanta, Georgia-based Delta Connection carrier had leased the 88-seat 146-200s for five years from British Aerospace Asset Management-Jets, but is to return them after only two years in a move to standardise its fleet.
The airline had envisaged a ßeet of up to 20 of the aircraft. They will be returned by early 1998, and replaced with a combination of 66-seat Aero International (Regional) ATR 72s and 50-seat CRJs.
The airline says that it exercised an opportunity in its lease to return the 146s early, and it will incur a one-time charge of $2.6 million for expenses related to the return. The 30 CRJs on firm order will be delivered at a rate of one a month, beginning in August. The carrier has options on a further 60 aircraft.
Source: Flight International
