Orange County Business : Burlington Air Express Will Boost Fleet

Burlington Air Express said it will add five freighter jets to its fleet in July, boosting total cargo capacity by more than 20%. The Irvine-based unit of Pittson Corp. will operate 28 aircraft after adding three versions of the Douglas Aircraft Co. DC-8 and two Boeing B-727 models to its fleet. Burlington said the new aircraft are needed to meet rising demand. The company said its first-quarter domestic shipment volume jumped 21%. North American revenue rose 10% in 1993 and increased 19% in the first quarter this year. Burlington Air Express is a $1 billion worldwide cargo carrier. While headquartered in Orange County, the company does not operate its large jets from publicly owned John Wayne Airport because of a county government ban on cargo operations there.