ANDREW DOYLE / SINGAPORE
Khalifa Airways' ambitious expansion plans include the purchase of a number of Airbus A340s, A330s and A320s
Rapidly expanding Algerian airline Khalifa Airways has become the second customer for ex-Singapore Airlines (SIA) Airbus A340-300s after agreeing with Boeing to take two aircraft.
The privately owned Algiers-based carrier has meanwhile ordered a Boeing 777 full-flight simulator from Canada's CAE, raising speculation that it also plans to add the Boeing twinjet to its fleet. It has not announced any orders for 777s to date.
The US manufacturer agreed to buy back A340s if SIA did not manage to sell them first as part of an earlier sale of 777s to the Singapore carrier. Boeing has placed the first three ex-SIA A340s with Cathay Pacific Airways on three-year leases.
Khalifa, which does not operate A340s but has three ultra long-range A340-500s on firm order, is understood to have also concluded a lease deal for the two ex-SIA aircraft. Boeing declines to comment.
The two A340-300s - which were the 139th and 149th A340s built - were delivered new to SIA in 1996 and are no longer being advertised by Boeing as available for sale or lease.
Industry sources say the aircraft have already left Singapore but it is unclear when they are due to enter service with Khalifa. SIA declines to comment.
Khalifa Airways was established in 1999 and operates A310 widebody twins and ATR 42 and 72 turboprops. However the company's expansion plans have seen it order three A340-500s, five A330-200s and 10 A320s and it recently agreed to lease three A319s from Lufthansa until October 2002.
Its simulator order with CAE includes devices for the A330/A340, A320 and ATR 72 as well as the 777. Khalifa could not be reached for comment.
Source: Flight International
