Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC
American Trans Air (ATA/Amtran) plans a significant expansion in operations on the back of a major deal with Boeing involving orders and options for fifty-five 757-300s and 737s.
The deal is welcome news to Boeing after losing a series of recent US domestic airline orders to Airbus Industrie and provides a boost to the slow-selling 757-300 programme. The order for 10 Rolls-Royce RB211-535E4C-powered 757-300s is the first deal with a US airline.
ATA's 737 deal includes 20 firm 737-800s and options on another 10. In addition, the Indianapolis-based carrier will lease 15 more 175-seat -800s from International Lease Finance and GE Capital Aviation Services. The first 737 is due for delivery in June 2001, while the 757 delivery schedule is being negotiated, says an airline source.
The 246-seat 757-300s will replace six of ATA's 11 Lockheed L1011-50 TriStars. The carrier plans to retain its three longer-range L1011-100s and five recently acquired ex-Royal Jordanian Airlines -500s.
Its planned new 737s will be used initially to expand capacity and from 2002 to replace the airline's twenty-four 727-200Advs. It is understood that the Amtran-owned airline and Boeing will form a joint venture to dispose of the 727s, all of which are hushkitted to conform with Stage 3 noise limits.
ATA is to equip the new 737s with winglet extensions and has the flexibility to switch some of its order to the smaller -700 version. The airline has also expressed interest in the proposed longer range 757-200X if launched by Boeing. It has eleven 757-200s.
The new aircraft will be used to expand ATA's charter and scheduled services from its main Chicago Midway and Indianapolis hubs. The airline has launched a service to Washington National and added frequencies to New York LaGuardia. Planned new destinations include Boston and Seattle. A major driver behind ATA's decision to modernise its fleet around more fuel-efficient 737s and 757s has been rising oil prices, which increased by 78% in the first quarter and contributed to a net loss of $2 million in the three months up to 31 March.
Source: Flight International
