FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
2002
2002 - 1174.PDF
AIR TRANSPORT AIRLINE START-UP UK low-cost carrier targets autumn start A new UK low-cost airline is gearing up for launch later this year. The project was conceived by Neil Hansford, who founded the long-defunct UK regional airline, Euro Direct. The start-up is to be funded by European private equity and initially will not take on any debt. With a projected annual turnover of more than £100 million ($144 million), it will operate a fleet of 10-12 leased Boeing 737-300s, providing mainly European services out of UK airports including Birmingham but not London. The business plan for the carrier, which was submitted to the UK Civil Aviation Authority last month, was drawn up by Hansford, who launched Euro Direct in the mid-1990s. The air line was grounded after 10 months. Hansford is also a for mer executive of TNT and managing director of British World Airways. He is currently advising the unnamed investors in his capacity as chairman of UK consultancy Strategic Airline Solutions but would become a director of the airline. Hansford says the airline will not sell tickets through travel agents but will use direct telephone and internet sales via the company's own booking engine. "It will be a right-priced, low-overhead, airline," says Hansford, who cites EasyJet as the "brand leader" in the low-cost market. The airline has "no interest in London whatsoever" as a base because of growing congestion. "One of the airports in the proposal is Birmingham," he adds. The UK's second-largest airport outside the London area, with 7.8 million passengers last year, Birmingham says it is "aware" it features in the "embry onic" plans of the new carrier. The launch date is "probably September", Hansford says, adding that the CAA has to respond to the business plan within two months. FLEET RENEWAL VLADIMIR KARNOZOV / MOSCOW Aerof lot looks to replace ageing Airbus A310 fleet Russian carrier poised to drive competitive deals with big two for new aircraft and two 777-200ERs. Koltovich says Aeroflot's prob lems stem from having "too many types in the fleet". The carrier is also concerned that its ageing A310s are rapidly diminishing in value following the surge in aircraft availability after 11 September. Aeroflot is hoping to cash in on the current downturn to secure ultra-competitive deals with Airbus and Boeing, and both manufactur ers have submitted bids for its long- Aeroflot is considering replacing its fleet of 11 Airbus A310s as manu facturers submit bids for the long- term restructuring of its fleet. The airline's fleet planning group, which is headed by the for mer manager of Airbus's Moscow office Sergei Koltovich, has been tasked with devising a long-term plan. The airline operates a mix of Russian and Western types, the lat ter comprising 11 A310-300s, 10 Boeing 737-400S, four 767-3O0ERs FORECAST Russia set for growth For the first time in its history, Aeroflot has published its own outlook for the Russian airliner market, predicting the acquisition of 417 new aircraft with over 80 seats by 2015, and 785 regional aircraft. The forecast is based on assumptions that Russia's gross national product (GNP) will continue to experience 4-5% annual growth, which will result in an 8% increase in air traffic. Last year Russia's GNP rose by 6.4%, bringing a 14% growth in passenger traffic. If GNP growth contin ues at 5% through to 2015, then the country's passenger traffic will be double today's, at 43-45 million. For 2002-2015 forecast deliveries are 53 aircraft in the long-range/wide- body category; 215 in the medium-range/single aisle sector; and 149 in the short-range market above 80 seats. The 785 deliveries in the regional sector are forecast as 260 with less than 25 seats; 215 with 25-50 seats; and 310 with 50-80 seats. Aeroflot says that 75% of Russia's airliner fleet is aged 10 years or older, only 448 aircraft comply with Chapter 3 noise require ments and just 241 are capable of being modifed to comply. term fleet renewal requirements. They are understood to be centred on restructuring the carrier's exist ing fleet, and Koltovich says that the airline is seeking "well- thought-out plans on long-term fleet management, and not physi cal growth in the overall capacity". Although precise details of the proposals are not known, Aeroflot sources say the carrier is focusing on its short- and medium-haul require ments for flights to Western Europe, and is evaluating the Airbus A320 and Boeing Next Generation 737. Although Aeroflot already oper ates the 737, it is thought to be con sidering the rival A320, which could lead to a subsequent deal for Airbus widebodies to replace the A310s. However, observers believe it is more likely that Aeroflot will split its requirements for political reasons; otherwise, Russia could risk losing one or other manufacturer from its co-operative projects with Russian industry. The most likely scenario would see Aeroflot ordering A320s for its European network and Boeing widebodies for long-haul ser vices. It is also likely the national carrier will be obliged to acquire batches of Russian-built aircraft to offset the deals for foreign types. Four A320s delivered to Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium's new charter carrier, Thomas Cook Airlines, has introduced four Airbus A320s, transferred from UK sister company JMC Airlines. A fifth will enter service next month. The airline is flying to 34 holiday destinations in Europe. Later this month, a Boeing 757 will be leased from German partner Condor until October for services to Dakar and Banjul in Africa, while a Boeing 767 will operate from July to September to boost summer capacity. 10 16-22 APRIL 2002 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.flightinternational.com
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
