TWIN AND TRI-JET orders, worth potentially up to $710 million, have been revealed by McDonnell Douglas (MDC).
The announcements were timed for Farnborough as part of MDC president Harry Stonecipher's continuing crusade to rebuild confidence in MDC's Douglas Aircraft division. Some $365 million of the package is made up of MD-90s for Egyptian carrier Heliopolis, and KTHY of Turkey. Heliopolis, which recently took a MD-83 on lease, purchased one MD-90, with options for two more. KTHY placed firm orders for three IAE V2500-powered MD-90s, with options for a further three.
Brazilian carrier, VASP ordered another MD-11, its ninth in total, and the fifth for the airline over the past year. US carrier Trans World Airlines (TWA) ordered up to 13 MD-80s worth $345 million. The deal, if sanctioned by the TWA board at its next meeting later this month, covers ten new aircraft and three used MD-80s. It is believed that these aircraft will be former Alaska Airlines machines, although MDC is unable to confirm this.
No further sales of the smaller MD-95 twinjet were announced, although the manufacturer had been strongly tipped to reveal new customers. Douglas president Mike Sears says that he is hopeful of making further sales and expects that there will be most activity during the 18 months to two years before the first delivery. The first MD-95 is still scheduled for delivery to troubled US airline ValuJet in late 1999. Initial production will be "-in the low teens in 2000 and in the 30s and 60s as the next couple of years progress", says Sears.
Source: Flight International
