Sabena is to order a mix of Aero International (Regional) Avro RJ100s and Airbus A319s and A320s by the end of 1997 to replace its 14 Boeing 737-200s, according to Air Transport Intelligence (ATI), the new Reed Aerospace news and data service .
The electronic news service, formally launched at the Paris air show, says that the new aircraft are required for delivery from late 1998, with all the airline's 737-200s due to be phased out by early 2000.
A senior Sabena manager says that the division of orders between the three aircraft types will depend on which is best suited to individual routes now flown with the 737-200s. Sabena already operates a substantial number of Avro regional jets (14 RJ85s and nine RJ100s on order). It will take delivery of its first RJ100 shortly. The Belgian flag carrier also operates six British Aerospace 146s.
In Airbus' favour, however, is the fact that Sabena has already ordered a fleet of A330-200s, in conjunction with Swissair and Austrian Airlines, and will operate three leased ex-Air Inter A330-300s, which it now intends to continue flying indefinitely. In addition, 49%-shareholder Swissair has ordered a large fleet of Airbus A319s, A320s and A321s. All of the Airbus fly-by-wire products share a common flightdeck.
Despite the phase-out plan, however, Sabena is hushkitting the 737-200s and carrying out a Eurocontrol-mandated avionics upgrade to improve navigation accuracy and allow direct routings avoiding navigation beacons, says ATI. The airline will continue to operate its fleet of 737-300s.
Meanwhile, Sabena and Swissair are jointly evaluating the Airbus A340-600 and Boeing 777, under a plan to phase out their combined total of seven Boeing 747-300s by the end of 2000.o
Source: Flight International
