Max Kingsley-Jones/LONDON
Emery Worldwide Airlines is evaluating the Airbus A300 and Boeing 767-200 as potential replacements for its fleet of McDonnell Douglas DC-8 freighters. It expects to finalise its long-term fleet plan during 1999.
The Dayton, Ohio-based airline division of US freight forwarder Emery Worldwide (itself a division of CNF Transportation) operates 60 aircraft, including around 40 DC-8-60/70s, while a further 30 aircraft are seconded from contractors. The carrier is about to introduce the first of five MDC DC-10-10Fs on seven-year leases for its US domestic network, but the limited availability of the type means that other aircraft are being examined for the longer term.
Emery was recently awarded an exclusive $1.7 billion contract to handle priority mail for the US postal service, which has an initial term of 54 months. "We had originally hoped that the DC-8s would go on for ever," says the airline's chief executive Roger Piazza, "but the postal contract has increased their utilisation and so we are having to study replacements." Piazza adds that the airline has an initial requirement for between 10 and 13 freighters with 20 containers for delivery "after 2000", with potentially the entire fleet eventually needing replacement.
CNF's chief executive Greg Quesnel says that Emery has already held in-depth discussions with Boeing about becoming launch customer of the 767-200 freighter conversion programme, which the company's Wichita division has put together in recent months. Piazza confirms that the Airbus A300B4F is also being examined as well as the DC-10, although he acknowledges the restricted availability of the latter. "During 1999 we will formulate a plan for the next five years," he says.
Boeing confirms that it is in discussions with Emery and says that following a go-ahead, the first aircraft could be converted, certificated and delivered no earlier than 2001. American Airlines is believed to be a potential source for the 767-200s. Although no decision has been taken, Piazza says that information provided by the manufacturers so far indicates that the 767 is more suited to its requirements.
Airbus is understood to have offered new A300-600Fs, but Piazza says the cost is "out of range". The airline has also considered leasing A300B4Fs from lessors such as C-S Aviation Services.
DHL Airways has awarded British Aerospace Aviation Services a contract for the conversion of seven ex-Thai Airbus A300B4s, plus additional options.
Source: Flight International
