Thu, Feb 23, 2012
All-717 Fleet To Be Basis For Low-Cost Carrier Serving Small,
Midsized Cities
The Boeing 717 will be the foundation for new European low-cost
airline, Volotea, with a long-term lease deal announced today
between The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) and the airline's management.
Volotea has taken delivery of its first 717-200 airplane from
Boeing Capital Corporation, the manufacturers' financing and
leasing arm. The operator plans to begin its new European
point-to-point service with an all-717 fleet in time for this
year's Easter travel season.
B717 Cockpit
Under a multi-year arrangement, Boeing will begin additional
deliveries year of the reliable and modern twinjet in March of this
year. The number of aircraft involved in the arrangement was not
disclosed.
In a comprehensive customer solution, Boeing Commercial Aviation
Services will provide operational manuals and its Maintenance
Performance Toolbox product. In addition, pilot training will
be conducted at Boeing training campuses, including in Stockholm,
Sweden. Volotea will also have a Boeing Virtual Procedures Trainer
(VPT) at its Barcelona facility, allowing greater scheduling
flexibility while reducing pilot training cost.
"Volotea's goal is to forge new and efficient air connections
between Europe's small and mid-sized cities currently not well
served by direct flights. We see the 717's capabilities as the best
solution for us in filling this need, and we see the partnership
with Boeing as the right one for our success," said Carlos Munoz,
Volotea's founder and CEO.
Designed for quick turnaround, high-frequency and short- range
markets (up to 1,500 nautical miles), the 717 offers big-jet
passenger comfort with the lowest noise and emissions in its class.
The twinjet is powered by Rolls-Royce BR715 high-bypass-ratio
engines developed and produced in Europe. "The 717 is ideally
suited for the market where Volotea hopes to thrive. The twinjet is
a good neighbor – it is fuel efficient and easier on the
environment than its competitors. These are important concerns for
the European market, and the 717 addresses them better than any
other product in its market niche," said Thomas Hansen, Boeing
Capital director of asset management.
Volotea's 717s will be configured to carry 125 passengers in an
all-coach layout.
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