Andrew Doyle/MUNICH
German charter carrier Hapag-Lloyd's effort to replace its Airbus A310s is being frustrated by the reluctance of Airbus and Boeing to commit to developing new short/medium-range widebody types.
The airline is one of a growing band of operators, including Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines, that seek A310 replacements.
Hapag-Lloyd managing director Wolfgang Kurth says Airbus has told him that a new medium-range product in the A300/A310 size category is unlikely to be available for several years because the consortium has its hands full developing the A318 and A3XX.
"What we are looking for is a people mover," says Kurth. "It's pretty disappointing to know that for the next five to eight years, nothing will be available."
Hapag-Lloyd requires an aircraft that can seat about 300 passengers in a single-class layout, to replace its seven 264-seat A310s. Kurth says the A330-200, or any further "shrink" that uses the same wing, such as the A330-100 under study (Flight International, 18-24 August), are structurally too heavy to be cost-effective on short- and medium-range routes.
Kurth says the only near-term solution would be for Airbus to "take the A330-200 and make it look like an aircraft that is economically attractive to me". This could be achieved, he says, by "taking something off the price tag to offset the excess range performance we are paying for but do not need".
Each tonne of unnecessary structural weight would add about DM80,000 ($43,250) to aircraft operating costs a year, he says.
Driving Hapag-Lloyd's requirement is the need for extra capacity - its four A310-200s and three -300s are only eight or nine years old.
Kurth claims that Airbus rejected his suggestion of combining the A310 wing with the A300-600 fuselage and a new cockpit and cabin interior, as being unfeasible.
Hapag-Lloyd has held talks with Boeing over its requirements but, as a large 737-800 operator, it wants to maintain a "dual source" fleet strategy if possible.
Kurth says Hapag-Lloyd will discuss fleet strategy with UK charter operator Flying Colours as the pair are under common ownership through German travel company HTU's acquisition of a majority stake in Thomas Cook.
Source: Flight International
