United Airlines is leasing a crewed Boeing 747-400 aircraft to Air Pacific for a period of two months. According to Air Pacific, the so-called 'wet lease' is intended to ensure "that schedule integrity is maintained" while one of the Fiji-based carrier's own B747-400 aircraft undergoes refurbishment in Singapore as part of a planned maintenance program during October and November, 2008.Under terms of the all-inclusive lease agreement, the United aircraft will be flown by United pilots, and the passenger cabin will be staffed by United Airlines flight attendants, assisted by two Air Pacific cabin crew on each flight. Catering will be provided by United. In addition United will be responsible for all maintenance for the plane, as well as all insurance fees.
The aircraft is one of the six Boeing 747s that will be retired later this year as part United's capacity reduction plan. Service on behalf of Air Pacific, which began on September 28, 2008, will include two weekly flights between Los Angeles and Fiji, three weekly flights between Fiji and Sydney, and Saturday-only service between Fiji and Auckland. The current contract runs through November 23, 2008.
A second Air Pacific Boeing 747-400 is scheduled for refurbishment in February and March, 2009.
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