Gunter Endres/LONDON
SCANDINAVIAN AIRLINES System (SAS) is to study a plan to purchase between ten and 20 long- and medium-range aircraft to add to its fleet starting by the year 2000.
The study will examine the case for retaining the Boeing 767 in the SAS fleet and acquiring more of the type, or replacing the aircraft with a new type.
The requirement is for between ten and 20 long-range aircraft with 250-300 seats. The eventual choice will be interdependent on which type of 180- to 200-seat medium-haul aircraft is selected for its European routes. According to SAS vice-president for fleet development, Kurt Kuhne, up to 50 of the smaller aircraft could be needed by 2015, although it may initially start with a purchase of only five aircraft.
There are three possible combinations, says Kuhne, emphasising that important considerations will be the cargo-carrying capacity and cross-qualification of crews on both new types. If the 767 is retained, it is likely that SAS will add the Boeing 757 and either a small number of 777-100s or the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 Combi. The latter is particularly attractive because of its passenger/cargo mix.
While Boeing won an order for 35 Boeing 737-600s in March 1995, the odds on Airbus scooping the new contracts would appear to have shortened to at least evens, given the recently cemented partnership with German national carrier Lufthansa and the avowed aim of commonality and rationalisation.
According to Kuhne, an all-Airbus re-equipment would involve the A330-200, plus a small quantity of A340-300s, together with the A321 to fill the medium-range requirement.
The study is to be completed by the end of this year, with a final decision made no later than mid-1997. Deliveries are scheduled to start in 1999.
Source: Flight International
