Midwest Express Airlines is to acquire four Boeing MD-80 series aircraft operated by SAS. After refurbishment and modification, three are expected to enter service in 2001 and one in 2002. The Milwaukee-based airline operates six MD-80s; four more are scheduled to enter service by mid-2000. Chile's Ladeco has acquired an ex-British Airways Boeing 737-200 Adv from GE Capital Aviation Services/Polaris on five-year lease. Alitalia Express has taken delivery of the first two of three ATR 72-500s ordered earlier this year to replace ATR 42s. The two aircraft, with a third due later this year, will bring the carrier's ATR fleet to seven ATR 72s and six ATR 42s. Sabre Airways is boosting its 737-800 fleet with the lease of an aircraft from Tombo Aviation next February. Two 737-800s are leased from International Lease Finance. Dutch British Airways franchise operator BASE Airlines has boosted its Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia fleet to five aircraft, with the lease of three ex-WestAir examples. Ghana Airways is adding two McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30s to its fleet on lease from World Airways. The first aircraft will be delivered this month and is believed to be replacing a similar aircraft leased from Skyjet. The second will arrive in November. Tyrolean Airways has converted options for two Bombardier Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ) Series 200s into firm orders. The deal brings the Austrian carrier's CRJ fleet to 12 aircraft. Airtours will take two additional CFM International CFM56-powered Airbus A321-200s in May and June next year, on lease from GECAS. Algerian start-up Khalifa Airways has received government approval to launch services. The airline plans to acquire two A310s for services between Algiers and Marseilles. Duganair Technologies has taken two additional orders for its 727 Stage 3 Quiet Wing System, including one from International Air Leases and one from Donald Trump.
Source: Flight International
