Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) is seeking buyers for six Fokker F28 Mk4000s operated by its subsidiary Air Botnia. Aircraft Leasing & Management (ALM) has been appointed to remarket the aircraft, which will be available for delivery at a rate of one a month from June. Israeli private airline Arkia has added a fifth ATR 72-500 to its fleet. FedEx is reported to have purchased six General Electric CF6-powered A310-200s from Air France for conversion to cargo. Iberia franchisee Air Nostrum is phasing out its five Fokker 50s, and the aircraft owners, two German banks, have appointed ALM to remarket the aircraft, which will be available for delivery at a rate of one a month from October on a sale or long term lease basis. Channel Express has wet-leased a 7.5t payload Antonov An-72 freighter for rapid response ad-hoc charter operations within Europe. The all-cargo twinjet has been leased from Tallinn, Estonia-based Enimex. Italian regional Air Dolomiti has firmed up options on three Bombardier CRJ200s for delivery by early 2003. The airline will receive the first three CRJ200s it has on order this month and next. THY Turkish Airlines has sold its six Airbus A310-200s to Iran Air for delivery between April and August, according to Turkish press reports. The deal is reportedto be valued at $90 million - $12 million per aircraft and the rest for spares and engines. Indian domestic start-up Royal Airways of New Delhi will take delivery this month of its first Boeing 737-400. The aircraft, sourced by Fortis Aviation, is on an operating lease from First Security Bank of Salt Lake City and was formerly operated by THY Turkish Airlines. Fortis has sourced a further four of the type, details of which have not been released. Royal Airways will launch services, under the operating certificate of Modiluft, next month. Vanguard Airlines in the USA is returning three 737-200s to lessors ahead of delivery of the first of six MD-80s.
Source: Flight International
