Fairchild Dornier delivered the 1,053rd and final Merlin/Metro-series aircraft, a Metro 23, on 28 March, to US charter operator National Jet Aviation Services, ending a 35-year production run. More than 800 aircraft are in service worldwide. Taiwan's EVA Airways has completed a deal to sell eight Boeing 767-200/300s to GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) as part of its recent deal to lease six Airbus A330-200s and purchase two others. Two 767-200s and three -300s have already been sold to GECAS for $117.6 million and the remaining four aircraft are to be bought by Aviation Financial Services later. All eight will remain in service with Taiwan's second carrier until 2003, when A330 deliveries start. Japan TransOcean Air (JTA) has purchased two 10-year-old ex-Sabena Boeing 737-400s from CIT Aerospace. The aircraft will replace JTA's remaining Boeing 737-200 Advs Eurowings has taken delivery of its first of six ATR 72-500s. Air New Zealand has leased a three-year-old Boeing 737-300 from Sobelair for five years in a deal arranged by Deutsche Structured Finance. Air Philippines has leased three Boeing 737-300s from GECAS for its international network. UK regional airline Eastern Airways has acquired two ex-Compagnie Aeronautique Européanne BAe Jetstream 32s from BAE Systems Aircraft Services Group. It also has extended leases on five J32s currently operated. Thai Airways International has sold its last A310-200 to Cabot Aviation. The 15-year-old, GE CF6-80C2A2-powered aircraft is being offered for sale or lease. Hong Kong's Dragonair has acquired a second Boeing 747-200 freighter on a "partial lease" from Atlas Air for three months. Anchorage-based Peninsula Airways (PenAir) has acquired a Fairchild Dornier Metro 23 from Canadian leasing company Alta Charters. A third Saab 340 will be delivered in May from Saab Aircraft Leasing.
Source: Flight International
