Gandalf Airlines, based in Bergamo, Italy, has taken an ATR 42 on wet lease from Gill Airways for operation on services from Bergamo to Munich and Zurich. The deal was arranged by Cabot Aviation. China Airlines has signed a wet lease with Atlas Air for two 747-400 freighters. Singapore Airlines has completed its tenth sale and leaseback of a Boeing 747-400 to a special purpose company. The 747-400 has been sold to Sansome Planes 111 and leased back for 104 months. Spanair has confirmed its commitment for up to 45 Airbus A320 family aircraft, placing firm orders with Airbus for 10 A320s and four A321s and concluding a deal for seven more aircraft from International Lease Finance (ILFC) on 10-year leases. Spanish charter airline Spaniar has options and reconfirmable orders for 24 aircraft (including A319s), with eight ILFC lease options. Deliveries of the International Aero Engines V2500-powered aircraft will begin in September next year. American Airlines has exercised its purchase rights for three additional Rolls-Royce Trent 892-powered Boeing 777-200ERs for delivery in the first half of 2001. The deal brings the carrier's total firm 777 orders to 37 aircraft, 10 of which have been delivered. Virgin Sun will take two additional Airbus A320 family aircraft for next summer and aims to expand at that rate every year. The airline launched in May with two CFM56-powered 180-seat A320s in service on lease from GE Capital Aviation Services. AB Airlines has placed a Boeing 737-300 with Air Madeira on a "medium term" ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance, insurance) lease. Guyana Airways 2000 has taken an ex-China Northern Airlines Airbus A300-600R, equipped with Pratt & Whitney PW4000s, on lease from Ansett Worldwide Aviation Services. Middle East Airlines is seeking buyers for its six 30-32-year-old Boeing 707-300s, with Apex Air appointed to remarket the aircraft.
Source: Flight International
