SABENA HAS SELECTED the Avro RJ85 to replace its regional-jet fleet, in a 23-aircraft order, which marks another major coup for the UK manufacturer among Europe's flag carriers.
The first four aircraft will be delivered at the end of the year, with the remainder arriving by the end of 1998. Sabena has also taken options on another 15 aircraft.
The Avro RJ85s will largely replace the existing fleet of eight BAe 146-200s, eight Fokker F28s, and ten Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia turboprops, operated under franchise by Sabena's regional subsidiary, Delta Air Transport (DAT). Besides updating the DAT fleet, Sabena says that the aircraft will help to handle growing demand at its Brussels hub. In addition, Sabena wet-leases 12 other aircraft.
The selection of the RJ85 for the regional fleet mirrors the decision in March by Sabena's alliance partner Swissair to standardise on Avro aircraft for its regional-jet operations. Swissair, which holds a 49.5% stake in Sabena, transferred all 100-seat jet operations to its regional subsidiary, Crossair, based around the RJ series. The Sabena RJ85s will be configured in an 82-seat five-abreast layout with leather seats, replicating the Crossair RJ specification.
The Swissair move involved an order for 12 new RJ100s and the disposal of its fleet of ten Fokker 100s. In 1994, Avro made its first breakthrough with a European flag carrier, with Lufthansa's decision to acquire RJ85s to replace the bulk of its CityLine Fokker 50 fleet.
The latest Sabena order brings Avro's total orders so far this year to 38, more than doubling the order intake of rival Fokker.
Sabena is also to replace its three McDonnell Douglas DC-10s with the four Airbus A340s, which the airline has had on dry-lease for the past three years.
Sabena was originally a launch customer for the A340, with an order for five aircraft. The first of these were delivered in 1992, but were dry-leased for three years to its then partner Air France.
Source: Flight International
