Debonair has expanded its co-operation with fellow UK low fare airline AB Airlines and boosted its fleet capacity with a nine-month deal to lease a 139-seat Boeing 737-300.
The London Luton-based carrier will use the aircraft to supplement its fleet of 12 smaller British Aerospace 146s, initially to increase capacity on services from London to Barcelona. The 737 will be taken on an aircraft/crew/maintenance/insurance basis for nine months, which means AB crews will operate it. AB has decided to drop its London-Lisbon services, making one of its two 737-300s surplus to requirements in the short term.
Debonair chairman Franco Mancassola says a second 737 is being sought for introduction in March, and the airline is "aiming" to have the type added to its certificate during 1999 to enable its own crews to fly the aircraft.
"Our plan is to have four to five 'larger' aircraft in the fleet by the end of 2000," says Mancassola. "We remain committed to the 146 and that fleet will grow to 16 aircraft."
Turning to the airline's wider aircraft requirement, Mancassola says he is "still in love with the [Boeing] 717" but adds that the 737-300 is the only aircraft available in the short term. The airline has previously revealed plans to add up to 10 717s, but has not yet placed a firm order.
The deal with London Stansted-based AB is the latest in a series of link-ups between the two carriers. They already operate codeshare flights on services from Gatwick, although Mancassola says the two airlines "-have not explored opportunities to jointly operate flights".
Source: Flight International
