NORTHWEST will take delivery of 15 Boeing 757s earlier than scheduled, but will delay 25 more and possibly defer delivery of four 747-400s under an agreement with Boeing.
Under the pact, Northwest, which now operates 33 757-200s, will take delivery of the 15 additional 757s this year and in 1996, with the first arriving in October. They had been scheduled for shipment to Northwest in 1997 and 1998.
The next 25 757s, which were due to arrive between 1998 and 2000, will be delayed until 2003-5. The four 747-400s are on schedule for delivery in 1997 and 1998, but they may be deferred at Northwest's option.
Northwest agreed to accelerate 757 deliveries to "...smooth out and better time our schedule of new-aircraft deliveries". Boeing's Richard Albrecht says that the deal is good for both parties - Northwest achieves more flexibility and Boeing builds and delivers 15 aircraft sooner.
Northwest has obtained financing for the 15 757s. The 757 deferral and possible 747 deferral, would save about $2.4 billion in capital expenditures, otherwise scheduled for 1995-9. The move saves the US carrier almost $400 million in self-financed capital expenditures.
Early delivery of the 15 757s will allow the US carrier to retire Stage 2 Boeing 727s sooner. Northwest, meanwhile, says that it has converted options to purchase 40 JT8D hushkit shipsets made by ABS.
The move brings to 80 the number of McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30s it plans to hushkit.
Source: Flight International
