-Tower Air will wet-lease two Boeing 747-100 freighters to Chilean cargo airline Fast Air Cargo for one year. Fast Air operates three McDonnell Douglas DC-8-73s on services within Latin America and to the USA.
-Willis Lease Finance has committed to purchase 12 Boeing 747-100s and spare engines from United Airlines, which it plans to break for spares for onward sale or lease. The 25-28 year old aircraft are equipped with Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7A engines. Willis expects that some will be suitable for its operating lease portfolio.
-Colombia's state-owned regional carrier SATENA took delivery of two additional Fairchild Dornier 328-120 turboprops in mid-March. A sixth is scheduled for delivery in early June. SATENA introduced its first three 32-seat 328s in December 1996, replacing older HS 748s and CASA 212s, to take over some routes operated by Fokker F28 jets.
-GB Airways has introduced two Boeing 737-300s delivered directly from Boeing, which represents its first major investment in aircraft ownership. A third 737-300 has also just been delivered on lease.
-Kellstrom Industries of Sunrise, Florida, has taken delivery of an ex-Trans World Airlines, 1970-build Boeing 747-100 for dismantling, in a deal arranged by Fortis Aviation.
-Sabena has confirmed its commitments for 34 Airbus A320 family aircraft, with deliveries starting in early 1999. CFM International CFM56-5 engines were selected for the aircraft in February. Sabena also ordered two more Pratt & Whitney PW4000-powered A330-200s.
-L'Aeropostale is to acquire three ex-Olympic Airways Airbus A300B4s on lease from Aircargo Capital. The aircraft will be converted to freighters by Sogerma between September 1998 and early 1999.
-Tunisian regional carrier Tuninter has added an ex-Bouraq Indonesia Boeing 737-200, on lease from Indigo Aviation. Three MDC DC-9-30s and two AI(R) ATR 72s are now operated.
Source: Flight International
