Beginning Of A New Era For Malév Fleet

Under the terms of the proposal signed by the two companies, in stage one of the programme four pre-owned Q400 turboprop aircraft – optimized for short- and medium-haul operations and providing the perfect balance of passenger comfort and operating economics with the lowest environmental footprint – will join the Hungarian national fleet from the 2008/2009 winter schedule, to be followed by four new models coming into service from 2012. Malév, which becomes the 25th operator of the world’s most advanced turboprop, has placed options on a further four aircraft for 2013. Calculated together with the four aircraft entering into service in 2008, the number of Malév turboprops may rise to 12 within five years.

“Malév will gradually introduce the Q400 aircraft, replacing the four 50-seater CRJ200s, and the five 72-seater F70 planes that are being taken out of service on a stage-by-stage basis from 2009. In view of the high kerosene prices afflicting the airline industry globally, the consumption characteristics and reduced environmental impact of the Q400 aircraft will assist in ensuring the highly efficient operation of Malév,” announced Malév CEO Péter Leonov. He was speaking at an international press briefing on the third day of the Farnborough Air Show, considered one of the foremost trade exhibitions and fairs for the aviation industry.

At the press conference Bombardier Commercial Aircraft President Gary R Scott welcomed Malév as the newest member of the Q400 airliner family: “With its acquisition of four pre-owned Q400 aircraft, Malév Hungarian Airlines becomes the 25th operator of the world’s most advanced turboprop. Quiet, fast and efficient with a reduced environmental impact, the Q400 will be the cornerstone aircraft of Malév’s fleet restructuring.”

The first four aircraft, each six years old, will be taken over by the airline this autumn in time to be entered into service from the beginning of the winter timetable. In the next stage the Hungarian national airline’s fleet will be expanded with four new planes in 2012, and according to plans these will be joined by a further four Q400 aircraft in 2013; the airline has already placed options on these latter units with Bombardier. Calculated together with the four aircraft entering into service in 2008, the Malév Q400 turboprop fleet may rise to 12 within five years. In 2010 Malév will decide whether to retain the used Q400 turboprops following the arrival of the new units, and whether it will confirm the order options it has for deliveries in 2013.
In the event of a final agreement, and based on the list price of the Q400 NextGen aircraft, the value of the contract would be approximately USD 113 million for the four new planes, and USD 226 million when all options are exercised.

Significantly lower fuel burn helps to give the Q400 airliner the lowest operation costs per-seat in the regional aircraft market. Studies show that the operational costs of running Q400 turboprops will be better than older model jets, and their introduction into service should result in savings of several hundred dollars per flight. Besides their great cost efficiency, the eight Q400 aircraft will provide Malév with 22.4% more capacity compared to the existing regional jets in the fleet, which projected on an annual basis represents revenue of more than USD 10 million.

With a maximum range of nearly 1,300 nautical miles (2,400 km), the Q400 turboprop is optimized for short- and medium-haul services and offers the perfect balance of passenger comfort and operating economics with the lowest environmental footprint. With a maximum cruise speed of 360 knots (667 km/h), the Q400 turboprop will arrive at destinations in just a few minutes more than at present, whereas with other turboprop types the time differential on an average route can be longer. The Q400 comes equipped with the superlative Active Noise and Vibration Suppression (ANVS) System, which is particularly important for enhanced customer comfort.

Q400s are comfortable, modern, economical aircraft with a reduced environmental impact; the fleet has proved its worth and popularity in the fleets of other major oneworld airlines such as Japan Air Commuter and QantasLink.
The introduction into service of the Q400 turboprops will go a long way to assisting Malév in further strengthening its market position and profitability on its regional routes."

Source: Malév Hungarian Airlines