Herman De Wulf/BRUSSELS
City Bird, the Belgian low-cost long-haul airline, is undertaking a major expansion of its all-cargo operations which will see it introducing two new Boeing 747-400 freighters next year.
The Brussels-based airline confirms that it has placed orders with Boeing for two 747-400Fs for delivery in June and July 2000, and is finalising details such as powerplant selection and financing for the $340 million deal. Negotiations are under way with engine manufacturers General Electric, Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce on the powerplant.
Operating in City Bird colours, the 747s will be fully owned by the airline and will supplement two new Airbus A300-600 freighters ordered last year, which are due for delivery in June and July.
City Bird is talking to Boeing about the possible short-term lease of one or two 747-200Fs to provide interim capacity from mid-1999, when it launches its all-cargo operations with the A300 freighters.
The 747-400Fs will be used on long-haul services to points in South America and the US East and West coasts.
The airline says that its decision to order the 747-400F was dictated by the aircraft's ability to fly 11-14h missions with 126t of freight. The 747-200F that is being considered in the interim can carry 100t. The A300Fs will be used initially on intra-European services, and City Bird aims to use the aircraft to develop long haul cargo services to Central and South Africa.
City Bird operates three all-passenger Boeing MD-11s and two Boeing 767-300ERs on its own specialist low-cost, no-frills, transatlantic operations and on wet lease services for Sabena. Swissair cargo subsidiary Swisscargo has an agreement to lease all City Bird's available cargo capacity on its scheduled flights.
Last year Brussels Airport handled over 2 million tonnes of air freight, and City Bird estimates that its combined annual freight capacity will amount to less than 8% of this figure, at around of 170,000-180,000t.
Source: Flight International
