Max Kingsley-Jones/LONDON
Gemini Air Cargo is finalising a deal to acquire four of British Airways' eight McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30s, while the rest of the aircraft are expected to be placed with passenger airlines in the short term.
BA's eight DC-10-30s are operated on its long-haul network from London Gatwick, but will be phased out next year, beginning in January. The 17-24-year-old DC-10s were originally operated by British Caledonian, which BA took over in 1988.
An undisclosed company, which had already purchased two of the DC-10s in a sale and lease back deal in 1991, is understood to have acquired the remainder of the fleet. Trading specialist Curtis & Co is now remarketing the aircraft.
US supplemental cargo carrier Gemini, based in Washington DC, has an agreement to purchase three of the DC-10s, and take a fourth aircraft on lease. All four will be converted to cargo by Aeronavali in 1999 and 2000, and will boost Gemini's DC-10-30F fleet to 12 aircraft.
Gemini launched operations in 1995 and its all-DC-10-30 fleet has been built up primarily with ex-Lufthansa aircraft converted by Aeronavali. The carrier was looking to expand its fleet further and had been in discussions with Boeing about the acquisition of MD-11 freighters before the production phase-out was announced.
With Aeronavili's first conversion position for new customers not available until late 2000, the remaining four BA DC-10s are expected to be placed with passenger airlines in the short term until they can be slotted in for freighter conversion.
Source: Flight International
