Japan Airlines (JAL) has firmed up a deal to acquire seven General Electric CF6-80C2B7F-powered Boeing 767-300ERs through an operating lease arrangement with Mitsubishi. The lease deal is seen by industry observers as a "stopgap" measure aimed at meeting fleet modernisation requirements until Boeing 7E7s can be acquired later this decade. Deliveries will begin next year and continue through September 2006. Southern Air has purchased two ex-KLM Boeing 747-200s - one -200 Special Freighter and one -200B combi Stretched Upper Deck - in a deal arranged by Cabot Aviation. GE Capital Aviation Services has placed three Boeing 737-300 freighters with Iceland-based Bluebird Cargo. The aircraft are being converted to freighters by Israel Aircraft Industries and will be delivered from April 2004. Kalitta Air has purchased an ex-China Airlines 747-200 freighter in a deal arranged by Focus Aviation.
Source: Flight International
