Max Kingsley-Jones/LONDON
UK regional airline British European is turning its attention to 70-90 seat regional jets, following its long expected deal with BAE Systems for up to 20 Avro RJXs.
The deal, valued at $600 million, is for 12 firm RJX-100s plus eight options and brings a much needed boost to the programme. The only other firm order announced to date is for two aircraft from Druk Air. British European will take delivery of the 112-seaters between April 2002 and March 2006.
The Exeter-based carrier operates part of its network under a franchise and codeshare deal with Air France. It operates 17 examples of the RJX's predecessor, the BAe 146, and is yet to decide whether the new Honeywell AS900-powered aircraft will supplement or replace them. In 1999, the airline concluded a deal with Bombardier for four 50-seat CRJ200s along with thirteen 37-78-seat Dash 8 turboprops.
"We have the flexibility that by 2006 we could have a fleet of 37 BAe 146s and RJXs, or 12 RJXs and another 70-90 seater type," says British European chief executive Barry Perrott. He adds that the airline may also have a longer term need for a larger aircraft in the Airbus A320/Boeing 737 category.
"We had considered taking some of the Avros as the RJX-85, but when we looked at the economics and pricing it didn't make sense to go for the smaller aircraft. This creates room underneath for 70-90 seat types such as the CRJ700 and CRJ900," says Perrott. A decision is unlikely before next year.
As well as offering lower operating costs, the RJ-X will give the airline much greater range than the 146 offers, says Perrott: "Eastern Mediterranean destinations will be within reach of Gatwick with a full passenger load, while most of northern and central Europe will be within range of London City."
Assembly of the first RJX is almost complete at BAE's Woodford, UK, plant, and first flight is due next month with certification in the first quarter of 2002. BAE Systems chief operating officer Mike Turner says contracts are in place for all but four of the 14 current model RJs left to be produced.
Source: Flight International
