Air France has agreed a lease deal with International Lease Finance (ILFC) for one Boeing 747-400 and two Boeing 777-300ERs. The General Electric CF6-powered 747-400 will be delivered in March next year on a 10-year lease, and the two 777s will arrive in September 2004 and March 2005. Air Lithuania has leased a 13-year-old, ex-Air Iceland ATR 42-300 from GPA ATR, in a deal arranged by the aircraft's manager, Magellan Air. The Kaunas, Lithuania-based airline has used the aircraft to replace its last Yakovlev Yak-40, giving it an all-ATR fleet operating to destinations in Denmark, Germany and Sweden. US joint venture cargo specialist Precision Conversions has been contracted by Ansett Worldwide to convert two Boeing 757-200s from passenger to freighter configuration. Work will start in 2004. The deal also includes options for Ansett Worldwide to convert further aircraft. Greek carrier Aegean Airlines has received an ex-Pegasus Airlines Boeing 737-400 on long term lease from Ansett Worldwide. Hawaiian Airlines, which is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, has restructured its leases for seven Boeing 767-300ERs with lessor Ansett Worldwide. The aircraft will be retained and assume the new lease terms as part of its plan for reorganisation. Earlier this month Hawaiian renegotiated leases on four 767-300ERs with ILFC. Dubai Air Wing has agreed to buy a Pratt & Whitney PW4000-powered Boeing 747-400 from United Airlines, which is in bankruptcy protection, for $55 million.
Source: Flight International
