Max Kingsley-Jones/BARCELONA
JMC Airlines, the newly formed UK charter carrier, expects to choose between Airbus and Boeing for its new long-haul fleet later this year after concluding its long-expected order for up to five Boeing 757-300s.
The long-haul deal could signal the start of a joint fleet planning pact with sister airline Hapag-Lloyd of Germany.
JMC formally launched operations at the start of the UK summer season on 26 March, after being created by the merger of Caledonian Airways and Flying Colours. The new airline is linked to Hapag through Preussag, which also owns JMC parent Thomas Cook.
The JMC merger creates the UK's second-largest charter fleet, with 28 aircraft in service this summer - 10 Airbus A320s, 16 757-200s and two McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30s. As revealed last November (Flight International, 24-30 November), JMC has ordered two Rolls-Royce RB211-powered 757-300s for delivery next April, and has taken three options on the 280-seater.
"The -300 gives us another 40 seats for our European network, and helps us at slot-constrained airports like Gatwick and Manchester," says JMC managing director Terry Soult.
"We are now turning to the replacement of our DC-10s for long-haul services, which we would ideally like to introduce for summer 2002."
Soult says the Airbus A330-200 and Boeing 767-300ER are being evaluated, with an initial order for two aircraft expected to be concluded this year. "We would like to include the longer-range 767-400ERX, but this is not available within our required timescale," Soult says.
The long-haul evaluation is being undertaken in conjunction with Hapag, which has its own requirement for a larger aircraft to replace its Airbus A310s. Soult says the two airlines are looking at ways to increase synergies. A joint order is one possibility.
Once the long-haul decision is settled, JMC will turn its attention to the A320s, the leases on which come up for renewal from the end of 2002, says Soult. Alternatives include extending the contracts or replacing the Airbus with another type. "One option would be to add more 757-200s," says Soult, "or we could standardise with Hapag on the Boeing 737-800 which would also offer a slight increase in capacity over the A320."
Source: Flight International
