Paul Lewis/SEATTLE
Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways plans to review the future use of its four Boeing 777-200s, following the introduction of the stretch -300 into service. The carrier is also disposing of an initial two surplus Boeing 747-200s to Virgin Atlantic Airways in an effort to rationalise types and restrict capacity growth in the face of the continuing slump in regional Asian traffic.
The airline has long stated a preference for the larger 777-300 over the -200 for use of on its short and medium range trunk routes within Asia. The airline placed an order for 11 of the initial 777-200s in 1992, but elected to take only four, switching orders for the remainder in 1995 for the follow-on stretch derivative.
"The 777-200s are not a great fit. If anything went, it would be the -200s-I think it's a judgement to make a year from now when we have got a fleet of 11 aircraft and we can see if we're using them properly," explains Cathay chairman Peter Sutch.
Cathay views the 336-seat capacity 777-200 as too close in size to 320-seat Airbus A330-300s. It uses the -200s mainly on slightly longer routes to Dubai, Bahrain and Australia, but it has not invested (as it did with its new 367-seat -300s) in an all-class inflight entertainment system for the twinjet.
It has opted for the 263,300kg (580,000lb) reduced maximum take-off weight (MTOW) version of the -300, powered by 374kN (84,000lb)-thrust Rolls-Royce Trent 800 engines. A "paper change" to the full 299,600kg MTOW and a throttle push would enable the stretch to operate on the -200's routes, provided there were sufficient demand, says Cathay.
The 777-300 will initially replace five of Cathay's seven 747-200s from June, two of which are being leased to Virgin Atlantic for five years, "subject to final agreement", says Sutch. The R-R RB211-524D4-powered jets will supplement five similar -200s which are being purchased by the airline from Air New Zealand.
It had originally been intended to increase frequencies by operating all 13 747-200/300s alongside the 777s, and then replace them with 10 -300s on option. "The downturn has meant that we're not going to do that so quickly," says Sutch. Instead, Cathay has reached an understanding with Boeing and Airbus for a "couple of years extension" on its 777 and six 747-400 and nine A330/A340 options.
Disposal of the 747-200s will enable Cathay to reduce projected capacity growth from 9% to 6.5%. In addition to the 777-300s, a final four A340-300s and one A330-300 are scheduled for delivery by October 1999.
Source: Flight International
