Max Kingsley Jones/LONDON
Iberia is planning to boost its Airbus A340 fleet to almost 20 aircraft, with a deal for up to 11 additional examples of the four-engined long-range airliner.
Xabier de Irala, president of Iberia, has signed a memorandum of understanding for six firm orders, plus five options. The airline already had four options for the type placed as part of its original order for eight firmly ordered A340-300s in October 1989.
Delivery of the newly ordered A340-300s will begin in November 1999. The aircraft will be equipped with a 249-seat three-class layout, and will be powered by the CFM International CFM56-5C4.
Iberia's current fleet of eight A340-300s is operated primarily on services from its Madrid base to points in Latin America, South Africa and the USA. De Irala says that the expansion of the A340 fleet will enable the airline to develop its plans to offer "daily links with the main cities in Latin America".
Iberia still operates two other long-haul types - seven Boeing 747-200s (including three combis) and four ageing McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30s. The airline says that the newly ordered aircraft will enable it to phase out the DC-10s, but intends to retain its 747s. The airline says that it will order additional aircraft "in the medium term" to replace the 747s.
Iberia is already a major Airbus customer, having ordered up to 76 A320 models in June, to add to its existing fleet of 22 A320s. Eight A300s are also operated.
Source: Flight International
