The fleet of eight McDonnell Douglas DC-10s operated by British Airways (BA) from London Gatwick will be retired from service during 1999, following an order for eight more Boeing 757s and 777s.
The airline has also confirmed plans to cancel orders for four 747-400s in favour of three additional 777s, taking its total new orders to 11 aircraft. All the new aircraft will be delivered in 1999.
The eight 17-24 year old DC-10-30s, which were acquired through the British Caledonian take-over, will be replaced by two newly ordered General Electric GE90-powered Boeing 777s, as well as six 767-300ERs transferred from the London-Heathrow base. The 767s in turn will be replaced at Heathrow by six new Rolls-Royce RB211-powered 757s.
The 757s will be acquired on operating leases, says the UK airline, and financing is already in place for the 777s.
Meanwhile, a further three GE-powered 777s have been signed for, in place of existing orders for four R-R RB.211-powered 747-400s, boosting BA's total 777 orderbook to 29 aircraft. The order switch cuts its 747 firm backlog to 18.
Source: Flight International
