Mid week news. Stories on- new NWA330/JetAways 739/Hijack/New 767 operator.

The A330 in the new livery of NWA awaits delivery — 1st of July 2003.

————————————————————————————

The first B737-900 for Jet Airways… looking pretty good. 🙂

http://www.clickhappy.com/to_home/dsc_4274_vt-jgc.jpg

http://www.clickhappy.com/to_home/dsc_4276_vt-jgc.jpg
————————————————————————————

Report: Possible hijack attempt on flight from Mexico at S-F-O

Passengers arriving on a flight at San Francisco International Airport from Mexico City were rushed away from the plane after the pilot sent a coded message of a possible hijack attempt, a television station reported Monday.

Several of the passengers were quickly removed and bussed away from from Mexicana Flight 976, television station KGO-TV, an ABC affiliate, reported.

San Francisco Police Sgt. Larry Ratti said his officers were investigating word that there was some sort of trouble aboard the flight, but couldn’t immediately provide more details.

It also wasn’t clear at 8:30 p.m., about an hour after landing, how many passengers or crew members remained aboard the flight or what exactly prompted concerns.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/04/28/state2359EDT0210.DTL
————————————————————————————

Eritrean Airlines Begins Operations with a New Boeing 767

ASMARA, Eritrea, April 29, 2003 – The Boeing [NYSE: BA] Company today congratulated Eritrean Airlines as one of the newest customers of the 767 family. The flag-carrier took delivery of its first 767-300ER (extended-range) airplane this month as preparations for new operations begin.

The airline’s first Boeing 767-300ER is being leased through Boeing Aircraft Trading and is the first of a series of airplanes that will enter the carrier’s fleet.

Eritrean Airlines will operate scheduled regional and cargo services from its Eritrean headquarters in Asmara, linking Eritrean passengers to destinations in Europe and other parts of Africa.

“This is truly a historic day for our airline,” said Asress Araia, chief executive officer for Eritrean Airlines. “This airplane marks the beginning of a new era in international commerce and communication for the people of Eritrea and will allow us the freedom to transport people and cargo in and out of our young nation.”

“We’d like to thank Boeing and its employees for their diligence in designing and producing this outstanding aircraft to meet our needs,” Asress added.

The 767 is the most popular wide-body airplane in production and has the proven range, profitability, reliability and well-earned reputation for providing outstanding value to other East African carriers like Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, Air Seychelles and Air Mauritius.

“We are very proud to hold such an honorable place in the history of Eritrean Airlines,” said Dinesh Keskar, senior vice president of Sales and president of Boeing Aircraft Trading – Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “The 767-300ER provides the perfect complement to the current business requirement and future route plans of Eritrean, and we look forward to being a part of their success.“

http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2003/q2/nr_030428g.html
————————————————————————————

China Eastern

Is looking to delay the delivery of certain aircraft this year. China Eastern is scheduled to take delivery of 18 aircraft this year, including A320s, A340s and B737-700s however the airline would like to delay 12 of those aircraft and is currently in talks with both manufacturers.
————————————————————————————

Air Algeria is set to place its order for at least 40 new aircraft. It looks like Airbus will win this order.
————————————————————————————

Air France Flight AF634, a Boeing 747 en route from Paris to Point-a-Pitre, which took off at 1516 on Monday, was forced to make a flight interruption because of a mechanical problem. The aircraft returned to Orly Airport where it landed at 1730.