Max Kingsley-Jones/LONDON
Virgin Atlantic has dropped plans to acquire secondhand Boeing 747-400s from British Airways after concluding a deal with Boeing and GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) to take five new 747-400s previously allocated to Alitalia.
The Italian carrier has dropped its 747 order in favour of a deal for smaller 777s. The move follows the break-up of its alliance with KLM, with which the 747s would have offered fleet commonality.
The airline's order for five GE CF6-80C2-powered 747-400s plus three options, placed last February, called for deliveries to begin in March. The replacement deal is for up to 18 GE90-powered 777s - six firm orders for -200ERs, with six options for the longer range -300ER along with six rolling options.
The 747-400s were ordered to replace Alitalia's ageing fleet of eight 747-200s. It is understood that the 777s will initially fulfil the same role, but it is likely that later aircraft will replace the airline's eight Boeing MD-11 trijets.
Virgin, which has two 747s on order from an earlier deal with GECAS, will receive the five additional aircraft from the US lessor between March and June. The airline currently operates six 747-400s, all of which are GE-powered. The acquisition of the ex-Alitalia aircraft provides better commonality than the previously planned deal for four of BA's Rolls-Royce powered 747-400s (Flight International, 17-23 October).
BA does not have ready takers for its four 747-400s, but is in talks with Cathay Pacific and Qantas. In its efforts to cut capacity, the airline is likely to accelerate the retirement of its 747-200 fleet.
Source: Flight International
