SWISSAIR HAS written to Fokker to make clear that it has no criticism of the Fokker 100, despite its probable dropping of the type from its fleet.
The airline says, that its public comments on the Fokker 100's economics, when it said that the aircraft had "accounted for a disproportionately high share of the losses we have sustained, on our European routes" have "led to misinterpretations" and it wants to stress, that the type's costs in Swissair service, are because of "Swissair's high cost structure and not the operational costs of the Fokker 100" (Flight International, 8-14 March).
Swissair managers are recommending that subsidiary Crossair, which is taking over all the group's 100-seat operations, should use British Aerospace Avro regional jets, which fit with its existing Avro fleet, rather than the ten-strong Fokker fleet.
A senior Swissair source says, however, that it is still possible that the Fokker 100 could be used as the replacement for the four McDonnell Douglas MD-87s which Swissair is to sell.
The airline had said that the Dutch-built aircraft would be phased out in 1996.
The airline's fleet plan for 1997 involves a reduction of types in the group fleet (including the Airbus narrow-bodies as one type) from the current 13 models.
Juan Polymeris of Swissair's fleet-planning department says that remaining types in 1997 are now envisaged as being the MD-82; Avro RJ series; Saab 2000; 29 Airbus narrow-bodies (five more than so far ordered); Airbus A310-300; McDonnell Douglas MD-11; and Boeing 747. The suggested wide-body numbers are the same as the current fleet.
Types to go are the Saab 340; the four Fokker 50s; the MD-80s ("three or four" of which may be converted to MD-82s); the MD-87s (possibly with a delay to let prices harden further, although a buyer has been found); the A310-200 (going this year); and probably the Fokker 100.
Source: Flight International
