TRISTAR AIRLINES, a new US start-up carrier, has leased three British Aerospace 146-200s for five years from BAe's Asset Management Organisation (AMO).
The agreement, signed at the convention, allows TriStar to begin scheduled operations from mid-July. The airline plans an initial, nine daily scheduled flights from its base in Las Vegas, Nevada to Los Angeles, San Francisco and the Grand Canyon. The first aircraft will be delivered on 15 June.
TriStar has a marketing agreement with Japan Airlines (JAL), under which it will fly JAL inclusive-tour passengers to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon from their arrival points at Los Angeles and San Francisco. TriStar's president, Don Martin says that, 35-40% of the passengers are expected to come from the JAL agreement.
Two existing AMO customers have also announced new lease agreements. Jersey European Airways (JEA) is extending the leases on all five of its 146s, as well as leasing a further two aircraft for delivery during the fourth quarter of 1995.
Air Wisconsin of Denver, Colorado, has acquired its fourteenth 146 from AMO, with predictions of further orders by the end of the year. The recent opening of the new Denver International Airport has led to an expanded route network linking Denver with key centres on the US West Coast.
AMO's managing director, Robin Southwell, says that, of its total fleet of 112 146s, there are just eight available for lease.
New Munich-based carrier Air Germanica has leased a BAe 146-200 from USAir for services to London City Airport, beginning in October. This is the first of USAir's 18 long-grounded 146s to be placed on lease.
Source: Flight International
