ALITALIA subsidiary Avianova put the first of its new Fokker 70 regional jets into service on 20 December, between Turin and Paris. The Rome-based airline has now taken delivery of the first three of its 15 ordered aircraft, with seven more to come in the third quarter, and the remaining five in 1997.
All will be configured with 67 seats and will be fitted with in-flight telephones.
The Fokker 70's performance capabilities, which include Category IIIb automated landing systems, providing a runway visual range (RVR) of only 75m and "no decision height", together with its steep approach certification, have been specified to enable all-weather operations at limited-visibility airports, such as Milan, and those with special access requirements.
Among the latter are Florence Peretola Airport and London City Airport, which Avianova will add this year, starting with a daily service (except on Sundays) from London Gatwick to Florence on 1 April. Twice-daily business flights will link London City Airport with Milan Linate on weekdays, beginning on 1 June.
Alitalia partner Malev Hungarian Airlines took delivery in December of the first of three 75-seat Fokker 70s on lease from International Lease Finance. The second and third aircraft are due for delivery early in 1996, to be followed by a fourth, which will be acquired directly from the manufacturer. Malev plans to use the Fokker 70 to several key European destinations, including London City Airport.
Source: Flight International
