newstodate.aero
Jun 16, 2011 (newstodate): Airbus' decision to shelve the freighter conversion program for the A320 really hit hard at the new freighter's first planned operator, West Atlantic.
-We learned of the decision only 24 hours before the press release went out, and it really came as a complete surprise. No early warnings, no prior negotiations, says Russell Ladkin, West Atlantic Sales & Operations Director.
-It is not just about adding a new aircraft type. It is basically an issue that lies at the very root of a business plan, and West Atlantic will now require some time to evaluate alternatives. One is to stick with short-haul turboprop services as of today, another is to consider the only immediate alternative, the Boeing 737 freighter, and a third is to define if there is yet another window of opportunity in the market.
-The obvious choice in the situation would be to acquire the Boeing 737-400 freighter. That aircraft is well-tested and already established with several existing carriers. Which is exactly the point: we would enter a market already filled by several competent providers without adding anything really new. So we will probably not do that
-Another thing is that that reason we opted for the A320 P2F is exactly because the A320 offers 10-15 percent lower operational costs than its competitor. Which was the reason Airbus shelved the conversion project. The A320, even after 10-15 years, is still very much in demand, and the residual value is too high to warrant its conversion into freighters.
-Maybe there are other windows of opportunity. Maybe there might be a business for West Atlantic in the wide-body freighter segment. In any case we will need some time to re-think our fleet strategy and our business model, says Mr Ladkin
-We learned of the decision only 24 hours before the press release went out, and it really came as a complete surprise. No early warnings, no prior negotiations, says Russell Ladkin, West Atlantic Sales & Operations Director.
-It is not just about adding a new aircraft type. It is basically an issue that lies at the very root of a business plan, and West Atlantic will now require some time to evaluate alternatives. One is to stick with short-haul turboprop services as of today, another is to consider the only immediate alternative, the Boeing 737 freighter, and a third is to define if there is yet another window of opportunity in the market.
-The obvious choice in the situation would be to acquire the Boeing 737-400 freighter. That aircraft is well-tested and already established with several existing carriers. Which is exactly the point: we would enter a market already filled by several competent providers without adding anything really new. So we will probably not do that
-Another thing is that that reason we opted for the A320 P2F is exactly because the A320 offers 10-15 percent lower operational costs than its competitor. Which was the reason Airbus shelved the conversion project. The A320, even after 10-15 years, is still very much in demand, and the residual value is too high to warrant its conversion into freighters.
-Maybe there are other windows of opportunity. Maybe there might be a business for West Atlantic in the wide-body freighter segment. In any case we will need some time to re-think our fleet strategy and our business model, says Mr Ladkin