-Singapore Airlines has concluded a sixth sale and lease-back deal on a Boeing 747-400 for five years. The agreement with special purpose company Sansome Planes II was again brokered by San Francisco-based Babcock and Brown.
-Shaanxi Aircraft has leased two Chinese licence-built Y-8 turboprop transports to Iran for an undisclosed period. The aircraft were delivered in March and will be used on international cargo services within the region.
-International Lease Finance has placed a new CFM International CFM56-5B-powered Airbus A319 and a similarly equipped A321-200 with Swissair. The aircraft will be delivered in May and December 1999 on initial 10-year lease terms.
-American Trans Air has taken delivery of the first of five Lockheed L-1011 TriStar 500s it purchased from Royal Jordanian earlier this year, along with spares and engines. The first TriStar will be put into operation in December with the remaining four following over the next 15 months.
-Brit Air will lease five Fokker 100s from Air France in November, which it will operate on European routes under franchise/charter agreements for the French flag carrier. The French regional partner of Air France operates ATR 42s and Bombardier Canadair Regional Jets.
-Singapore Aircraft Leasing Enterprise (SALE) has confirmed orders for an additional three Airbus A320s, increasing its total narrowbody fleet to 18 aircraft. The three aircraft are conversions of existing options, with two scheduled for delivery in April 2000, and a third in May. This agreement follows the earlier conversion of an option to an A321 for delivery in March 2000, increasing its own orderbook to 16 aircraft. Another two CFM56-powered A320s have been ordered on behalf of Iberia for delivery in 1999. The Singapore Airlines/Boullioun Aviation joint venture now has one unplaced aircraft which is scheduled to arrive in October 1999 and five A320/ A321s in 2000.
Source: Flight International
