Royal Jordanian Airlines is intending to decide within a couple of months whether to lease Boeing 777-200 or Airbus A330-200 aircraft as a replacement for its Airbus A310s.
It is considering acquiring three aircraft, on three- or four-year leases, to carry out a one-for-one replacement.
Royal Jordanian's new chief executive, Hussein Dabbas, detailed the plan to Air Transport Intelligence during the Arab Air Carriers Organization conference in Jeddah.
He says the airline has had to rethink its interim fleet strategy after the delays to the Boeing 787 programme, which have pushed back Royal Jordanian's deliveries to 2013.
Dabbas says the airline is "in discussions with Boeing and Airbus, and lessors" over a possible 777 or A330 lease, adding that the alternative is to retain the three passenger A310s for a longer period.
The carrier is already planning to refurbish the interiors on its A340 long-haul fleet from September-October 2010, having signed an agreement with Sicma.
Royal Jordanian is planning a route to Mosul next year, expanding further its services to Iraq, as well as the holy city of Medina in Saudi Arabia. Dabbas also identifies Johannesburg as a candidate destination for the airline.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
