Airline bows out of joint regional jet purchase with Star Alliance partners and settles for ex-American Airlines aircraft
The availability of cheap secondhand 100-seat aircraft has dissuaded Austrian Airlines from immediately linking with its Star Alliance partners and ordering new regional jets built to a joint specification. The airline has instead decided to acquire up to 15 ex-American Airlines Fokker 100s for its medium-term requirements.
Austrian has concluded a deal for nine ex-American aircraft, and has options for a further six, with deliveries due to begin in May. The aircraft will join the existing fleet of 10 Fokker 70s flown by Austrian and its regional arm Austrian Arrows. A decision on the six options could be made by the end of the year.
"The Fokker 100 acquisition was a cheap deal and the aircraft are available for our immediate needs," says Austrian chief executive Vagn Soerensen. The airline declines to comment on the purchase price, but Austrian sources say it paid around $2.5 million for each aircraft.
The Fokkers will replace Austrian's seven remaining Boeing MD-80s, helping it to streamline its fleet, and will be the "expansion-weapon" for its network to central and eastern Europe, says Soerensen. "We aim to increase our passenger traffic to the east by 50% through to 2008, opening two to four new destinations every year," he adds.
Soerensen expects the Fokker 100s will be operated for around four to five years, and says Austrian remains involved in the Star working group for regional jets and will take a decision on the acquisition of newer aircraft during this period. "That could be Bombardier, Embraer or Airbus," he says.
In December, Air Canada became the first Star carrier to commit to a regional jet order, choosing 45 Bombardier CRJ700-705s and 45 Embraer 190s. Lufthansa is expected to be the next to decide. Having "learned a lot" from the joint study, Soerensen says Star has decided to co-ordinate a 7E7 evaluation.
KURT HOFMANN / SALZBURG
Source: Flight International
