Manx/British Regional Airlines is to boost its BAe 146 fleet to four aircraft with the acquisition of an ex-Ansett Australia 146-300. The aircraft will enter service next March in time for the summer schedules. Pegasus Aviation has acquired a Boeing MD-83, which is currently on lease to German charter operator, Aero Lloyd. Tupolev plans to sell the three Tu-144 supersonic transports that it still owns, following the completion of the joint research programme with the USA. The design bureau is looking to place two of the aircraft with Western aviation museums, while it hopes that the third airworthy example will be acquired for further research work. China's Hainan Airlines is to acquire three Boeing 767s, and has raised $112 million to help fund the deal with the issue of new shares. Frontier Airlines has taken delivery of its 20th Boeing 737-200, acquired from Triton Aviation Services. Three or four more 737s will be introduced next year, before the airline starts a transition to an all-Airbus fleet. US lessor CIT has finalised an $100 million order for CFM International CFM56-5B engines to power 10 Airbus Industrie A320s, following the placement of the first two aircraft with Air 2000 for delivery in October and November 2000. CIT has also ordered 15 International Aero Engines (IAE) V2500 powered A320s, deliveries of which can be "mixed and matched" with CFM56 equipped jets, says the company. CIT expects to shortly announce the initial placement of five A330-200s, with the first of three Rolls-Royce Trent 700-powered aircraft scheduled for delivery late next year. Air Austral, the regional airline based on the Indian Ocean island of La Reunion, has concluded a deal for a single ATR 72-500 for delivery in July 2000. debis AirFinance has placed an ex-Kyrghyzstan Airlines A320 with Egyptian charter carrier Shorouk Air. The five-year-old, IAE V2500-powered, aircraft is on a five-year lease.
Source: Flight International
