Andrew Doyle/MUNICH
The Fairchild 728JET family has emerged as Eurowings' favourite for its planned order for up to 30 regional jets. But the carrier says it may have to switch to another manufacturer because the 50-seat 528JET model will not be available until at least 2005.
The Dortmund-based airline has a requirement for around 10 aircraft each in the 50-, 70- and 90-100-seat categories but needs the smallest type first to replace its ATR 42-300s.
The 528/728/928JET series is favoured because Eurowings wants a single aircraft family to cut costs and prefers a five-abreast passenger cabin to the three-abreast cross-section of the EmbraerERJ-145 and the four-abreast layout offered by the larger ERJ-170/190 family.
"We would prefer a family concept to reduce the number of types in the fleet," says Eurowings. "In terms of passenger comfort the Embraer is not what we think our passengers want."
Fairchild, however, plans to certificate its 70-85-seat 728JET first, in November 2002, followed by the 90-105-seat 928JET in early-2004. The 55-65-seat 528JET will not be available until the second half of 2005, and the manufacturer may yet decide to drop this model in favour of a further stretch of the 928JET (Flight International, 8-14 February).
Eurowings has also evaluated Bombardier's Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ) 200 and 70-seat CRJ700, but its proposed 90-seat CRJ900 and 108-115-seat BRJ-X-110 models have yet to be launched.
"We need something from the manufacturers to be able to plan which [50-seat] aircraft we can operate first," says the airline.
The German regional is also being heavily courted by BAE Systems which needs a launch customer for its Avro RJ85/100X models.
"They would like us to be a launch customer and they have discussed it with us, but we are not yet convinced," the airline says.
Eurowings operates 17 ATR 42s, of which 10 are the upgraded -500 variant, alongside 10 ATR 72s, 10 British Aerospace 146s and five Airbus A319s used for charter flights. The new regional jets are needed to open longer routes, primarily into eastern Europe.
The leased 146s are due to be returned by the end of 2002 and the carrier also wants to replace the ATR 72s with jets.
The 10 ATR 42-500s will be retained to operate feeder flights into partner KLM's Amsterdam hub.
About DM1 billion ($499 million) is required for the aircraft acquisitions. This will be raised via a flotation or through the sale of a stake in the airline by owner Albrecht Knauf.
Source: Flight International
