Air Maldives is to acquire three secondhand Airbus A310-300s on three-year leases from Airbus. The first aircraft, an ex-Air Jamaica, Pratt & Whitney PW4000-powered example, will be delivered on 15 October, with others due for delivery at one-month intervals. Schreiner Airways has taken delivery of two ATR 72s on lease from AGES. They will be operated on wet-lease for Sabena on services from Brussels to Luxembourg and Paris Orly. Asiana is to lease two new International Aero Engines V2500-powered Airbus A321-200s (six-year leases) and one ex-THY Boeing 737-400 (five-year lease) from International Lease Finance (ILFC). The 737 and the first of the A321s were both delivered in August, while the second A321 is due in July next year. Sabena's charter subsidiary, Sobelair, has ordered two Boeing 767-300ERs for delivery in March and May next year on lease from Flightlease. The aircraft will replace two older 767-300ERs that are being phased out. Angolan cargo carrier TransAfrik has acquired eight ex-Southern Air Transport Lockheed L-100-30 Hercules. Icelandair is replacing a Boeing 737-300 freighter leased from ILFC with a larger 757-200F, which will be delivered on a five-year lease from Ansett Worldwide Aviation Services. Brussels-based DHL International has taken delivery of the first of two more Airbus A300B4 freighters (ex-Grand Air and Philippine Airlines). The aircraft are being converted by DaimlerChrysler Aerospace, with the second aircraft due in December. Zimbabwe Express Airlines has leased a Boeing 727-200 from Safair to replace two McDonnell Douglas DC-9s leased from Sun Air. Airbus has taken orders from undisclosed customers for 33 aircraft, including 26 CFM International CFM56-powered A320s for delivery from 2001 and seven A330s (three powered by P&W PW4000 engines) for delivery from next year.
Source: Flight International
