Atlantic Coast nears all-jet fleet with 328JET purchase

Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC

Atlantic Coast Airlines (ACA) has finalised the purchase of 32 new Fairchild Dornier 328JETs, clearing the way for the United Express feeder to transition to an all-jet fleet. Meanwhile, sister carrier ACJet has ordered five more of the 32-seat aircraft for its Delta Connection operation.

The 328JET deal will expand ACA's fleet to the recently agreed maximum United Express allocation of 108 regional jets (RJs) and signals its intent to phase out the remaining 32 Jetstream 41 turboprops. "This pushes us definitely in the direction of becoming an all-jet fleet," says the Washington Dulles-based company.

ACA had originally planned to order 25 328JETs, along with up to 30 428JETs and a similar number of options. Following Fairchild Dornier's decision to scrap the 44-seat development, ACA switched to ordering 30 more Bombardier CRJ200s, bolstering its planned 50-seat fleet to 76.

ACA plans to take the first 10 328JETS next January and the remaining 22 by the end ofthe following year. The carrier plans to run on its leased J41s for "a couple more years", but it notes that United's new scope clause agreement with its pilots allows for incremental increases in RJ numbers tied to mainline fleet growth, in addition to 150turboprop replacements.

The airline is already having to pay financial penalties for the early return of its J32s to lessor BAE Systems. It took a one time charge of $5.2 million in the third quarter last year for retiring seven of the 19-seaters and "expects further charges to kick in" for the fourth quarter and this year as it phases out the remaining 21 J32s.

Meanwhile, start-up ACJet has bolstered its 328JET fleet to 30 with the addition of five more firm orders. The Delta Connection carrier already operates 14 328JETS and will take delivery of the remainder by the end of the year. Parent company ACA Holdings has also increased its 328JET options from 30 to 83, which could be assigned to either ACA or ACJet.

The ACA Holding orders increases the total 328Jet orderbook to 144 aircraft plus 90 options.

Source: Flight International