American Airlines has placed orders for three additional Boeing 737-800s for delivery in 2000. The 146-seaters will replace three aircraft operated by Reno Air that will not be integrated into American's fleet when the airlines are merged. Beirut-based Trans-Mediterranean Airways (TMA) is seeking finance to fund the acquisition of new aircraft to replace its five ageing Boeing 707-320C freighters. TMA says that the 707-320Cs need to be replaced in 2001 and, although it has not disclosed the aircraft it has selected, the Airbus A300 freighter is believed to be a prime candidate. Trans World Airlines has placed orders with Raisbeck for eight Boeing 727-200 Stage 3 modification kits, for installation by November. TWA holds options on 23 additional kits. Venezuelan carrier Aeropostal is about to add four aircraft, including two Airbus A320s and two McDonnell Douglas DC-9-50s. Airbus Industrie delivered its 2,000th aircraft on 18 May, when it handed over an Airbus A340-300 to Lufthansa. BWIA International Airways has taken delivery of its first Next Generation Boeing 737, a year-old 737-700 leased from International Lease Finance. The aircraft is being taken on interim lease to enable BWIA to begin route expansion on North American routes, before delivery of six Boeing 737-800 from December. BWIA has options for another three aircraft for delivery in 2001. UniCapital Air Group has concluded a $1.3 billion deal with GE Capital Aviation Services covering the acquisition of 36 jet aircraft. The deal sees UniCapital's portfolio double, to 70 aircraft, and the value triple, to $1.6 billion. The 36 aircraft are currently on lease to 23 operators. ++ The CIT Group has placed a Boeing 737-300 with Frontier Airlines on lease. Debis AirFinance has bought a CFM International CFM56-powered A320 from Airbus and leased it to Egyptian charter airline Lotus Air for 10 years.
Source: Flight International
