UK CHARTER AIRLINE Airtours International has begun phasing out its fleet of seven McDonnell Douglas MD-83s, in favour of the Airbus A320.
The first two aircraft have already been returned to the lessor for onward lease to Taiwanese carrier Far Eastern Air Transport. One aircraft will leave the Airtours fleet in December, two in January, and the remaining two in March and April, marking the end of McDonnell Douglas MD-80 twinjet operations in the UK.
Airtours has already taken delivery of two, ex-Excalibur Airways A320s and will acquire the other two early in 1996. Three more - one now operated by French Company Air Charter and two by Vietnam Airlines - will be taken on as the MD-83s leave. All seven A320s are being leased from GPA. For the 1996 northern summer season, the Airtours fleet will consist of ten A320-200s and six Boeing 757-200s, along with two Boeing 767-300ERs.
Source: Flight International
