newstodate.aero
Nov 05, 2009 (newstodate): The Icelandic company Avion Aircraft Trading is among the launch customers for the new Airbus A330-200F aircraft, due to perform its maiden flight these days - but placing the new freighter is a tough challenge.
In 2007, Avion Aircraft Trading placed orders with Airbus for delivery in 2010/2011 of a total of eight A330-200F aircraft, originally destined for use by Icelandair Cargo. The carrier, however, changed its decision in April, 2008, canceling its agreement with the leasing company and leaving AAT with the contract.
-It is indeed tough, and we have not so far succeeded in placing any of the aircraft with operators, although we are currently in talks with three or four parties, says David Mason, AAT managing director.
-We are, however, working closely with Airbus that has been very supportive towards us in finding solutions to the problem. It is obviously not easy to find a substitute to our original airline customer, and Airbus understands this very well.
-But we are of course not to take in all eight aircraft at one stroke. The first Airbus A330-200F will be delivered by the end of 2010, with the next aircraft to follow successively.
-While it looks rather bleak right now I am convinced that with recovery in the airfreight industry, the demand for cost-efficient freighter aircraft will rise again. I suspect that not many conversions of old Boeing 737 or Boeing 747 aircraft will take place from now, and many aircraft that are currently grounded will never return to service again.
-So I have no doubts that we will eventually succeed in placing these new aircraft on sound leasing arrangements with strong airlines, says Mr Mason.
In 2007, Avion Aircraft Trading placed orders with Airbus for delivery in 2010/2011 of a total of eight A330-200F aircraft, originally destined for use by Icelandair Cargo. The carrier, however, changed its decision in April, 2008, canceling its agreement with the leasing company and leaving AAT with the contract.
-It is indeed tough, and we have not so far succeeded in placing any of the aircraft with operators, although we are currently in talks with three or four parties, says David Mason, AAT managing director.
-We are, however, working closely with Airbus that has been very supportive towards us in finding solutions to the problem. It is obviously not easy to find a substitute to our original airline customer, and Airbus understands this very well.
-But we are of course not to take in all eight aircraft at one stroke. The first Airbus A330-200F will be delivered by the end of 2010, with the next aircraft to follow successively.
-While it looks rather bleak right now I am convinced that with recovery in the airfreight industry, the demand for cost-efficient freighter aircraft will rise again. I suspect that not many conversions of old Boeing 737 or Boeing 747 aircraft will take place from now, and many aircraft that are currently grounded will never return to service again.
-So I have no doubts that we will eventually succeed in placing these new aircraft on sound leasing arrangements with strong airlines, says Mr Mason.