Fleet Changes

November  2003

Ethiopian Airlines took delivery of a B-737-700 and a B-767-300ER, the first two of 12 new Boeing airplanes (six 737-700s and six 767-300ERs) the carrier is acquiring over the next four years.  The airline plans to use the new airplanes as replacements for its older B-737-200s and B-767-200s.  11-26-2003.

Boeing Validating Northern Russian Airports as ETOPS Alternates  

A B-777-300ER landed at Novosibirsk, Yakutsk and Petropavlosk as part of its overall flight test program aimed at validating ETOPS (extended operations) alternate airports in Russia.  Boeing says these airports are three of approximately 15 which serve as en route alternate airports for the Polar, Russian Far East and trans-Siberian routes.  11-25-2003.

Aer Lingus will purchase seven A320s, confirming previous plans.  In addition, the airline will lease 10 new A320s from ILFC.  All 17 are to be delivered by the end of 2005 and will be powered by CFM56-5 engines.  11-25-2003. 

EVA Air of Taiwan will lease a converted MD-11 freighter from GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS).  The aircraft is currently leased to EVA as a passenger aircraft.  Boeing will start to perform the conversion in April 2004, and should be done in August 2004.  11-25-2003.

Mesa Air Group will add three 50-seat regional jets to its existing revenue-guarantee agreement with US Airways.  The amendment, which must be approved by the US Airways Board of Directors, would increase the number of 50-seat regional jets under the contract with US Airways to 59.  Mesa currently has 52 of the 50-seat regional jet aircraft in service with US Airways. Four regional jets – already agreed to – will be delivered in December 2003, and these three more are expected to arrive in early 2004.  11-25-2003. 

Aegean Airlines took delivery of a B-737-400 delivered on a lease from Ansett Worldwide.  Aegean now has two B-737-300s and two B-737-400s.  11-25-2003.

Air Algeria ordered six ATR 72-500s to replace its fleet of F27s. The airplanes are scheduled for delivery between the end of 2003 and early 2004.  11-21-2003.  

Atlantic Coast Airlines, which says it is reconstituting itself as low-cost Independence Air, will acquire ten A319s and five A320s from Airbus, with options for more.  The airline will lease ten additional A319s as well.  All the airplanes will be powered by IAE V2500-A5 engines.  The first  aircraft will arrive in September 2004.   ACA currently operates as United Express and Delta Connection, has a fleet of 148 aircraft-including 120 regional jets.   11-19-2003.  

Air Algerie is buying five A330-200s with deliveries scheduled for 2005. The airline currently flies three B-767s and one B-747.  11-19-2003.  

Cayman Airways is leasing a B-737-300 with International Lease Finance Corp.  11-19-2003.  

Embraer is postponing the first eight deliveries of its new 170 regional jet in order to add certain documentation for its flight control system software. US Airways and Alitalia were to receive the aircraft this year.  11-18-2003. 

Copa Airlines took delivery of another B-737-800.  This was the16th Next-Generation 737 delivered to the airline.  Copa has three more B-737 deliveries scheduled for 2004.  11-18-2003.

Air Europa  took delivery of the first of two new B-737-800s aircraft, with CFM56-7 engines, on long-term lease with Boullioun Aviation Services.  A second 737-800 is scheduled for delivery in January.  11-18-2003.

Falcon 900EX EASy Certified  

Dassault's new Falcon 900EX EASy was certified by FAA and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA, formally the JAA).

Falcon 900EX EASy Flight Deck

                   Source: Dassault

The EASy flight deck, based on Honeywell’s Primus Epic integrated avionics system, has four 10- by-13-inch LCDs (liquid crystal displays), laid out in a traditional "T", which can be controlled by pointing and clicking with trackball-type cursor control devices.  The large flat panel displays provide for traditional pilot information as well as new moveable navigation maps, weather, terrain and traffic.  11-17-2003.

ATA took delivery of a B-737-800, the 32nd B-737 acquired from Boeing and the 14th leased from International Lease Finance Corporation.  In addition to the 32 737-800s, ATA has taken delivery of 12 757-300's and 15 757-200s.  In 2005 ATA will take delivery of seven more new 737-800s.  11-17-2003.

Gulf Air will take delivery of three A340-300s, believed to be ex-Singapore Airlines jets, in an arrangement with Boeing.  Their arrival at Gulf Air will raise the airline’s A340 fleet to ten, and its overall fleet to 36 aircraft.  11-14-2003.  

Southwest took delivery of its 14th B-737-700 for the year, bringing the carrier's B-737 fleet total to 386, including 143 -700s.  Three more -700 deliveries are due this year, one in November and two in December. The airline’s new B-737s have blended winglets, of which the airline now has five. 11-14-2003.

Southwest Chooses Honeywell Avionics for New B-737-700s  

Honeywell says Southwest Airlines has chosen its weather radar, traffic alert and collision avoidance systems (TCAS), data management systems, and certain communication and navigation systems for up to196 new B-737-700s it is purchasing.  The airline has placed a firm order for 115 of the Boeings and has options for 81 more.  Deliveries are scheduled through December 2012.  11-12-2003.

GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) plans to lease five new A320-200s to Azzurra Air of Italy, beginning in March.  The orders were previously announced.  11-12-2003.

Several China carriers have jointly ordered 30 B-737s, powered by CFM56-7 engines, to be delivered during 2005 and 2006.  Air China will take five 737-700s, Hainan Airlines will purchase eight 737-800s, Shenzen Airlines will take five 737-900s, Xiamen Airlines will purchase five 737-700s, and Shandong Airlines will buy three 737-700s and four 737-800s.  11-12-2003.

Horizon Air ordered two additional Q400s from Bombardier, which will increase its fleet to 17.  Horizon converted two previous orders for CRJ700s for Q400s, which resulted in this transaction.  Horizon retains firm orders for 28 CRJ700s, of which 16 have been delivered.  The airline will take delivery of two CRJ700s s in 2003, two Q400 turboprops in 2004 (converted from jets), and will take the remainder of its 10 CRJ700s at a rate of two per year between 2005 and 2009.  11-12-2003.

Frontier Airlines took delivery of its 22nd A319, leased from General Electric Capital Aviation Services (GECAS).  Frontier now has 13 B-737-300s, 22 A319s, and four A318s.  11-11-2003.

Canada’s WestJet board approved plans for the airline to buy seven next-generation B-737s.  11-11-2003.

Air-India said it will purchase 10 A340-300s and 18 B-737-800s.  11-11-2003.

Mexicana is leasing 10 A318s through GECAS that were previously ordered from Airbus.  11-07-2003.

bmi Selects Rockwell Collins Avionics for New A319s  

bmi has selected a Rockwell Collins avionics package for its new A319s scheduled to begin arriving next year.  The package includes the Collins WXR-2100 MultiScan weather radar, TCAS (traffic alert and collision avoidance system), VHF and HF communication radios, as well as ADF, VOR, DME, transponders and antennas.  11-06-2003.

Air Memphis will receive a refurbished A320 from Singapore Aircraft Leasing Enterprise (SALE).  11-06-2003.  

Cathay Pacific took delivery of the first of three new B-777-300s that the airline currently has on order.  The carrier now has eight 777-300s in its fleet. Two more B-777-300s and one A330-300 will be delivered over the next several months.   11-05-2003. 

Northwest took delivery of its fifth A330-300.  The airline has 17 more A330 -300s and 10 A330-200s on order.   11-05-2003. 

Air Europa will take delivery of four new CFM56-7-powered B-737-800s in 2004.  The aircraft will be leased from Itochu AirLease. 11-05-2003.  

Shandong Airlines took delivery of two more CRJ700s from Bombardier. The carrier already operates 10 of the regional jets. 11-05-2003.  

Swiss International Air Lines wants to delay deliveries of its Embraer 170s and 195s yet again – this time from 2004 to early 2005.  Embraer confirms that it is in discussions with the airline on the issue.  11-05-2003.

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