27 Aug 2001
BAE Systems Aircraft Services Group today announced that Angel Airlines, a new regional airline based in Bucharest, Romania, has signed a lease agreement for five Jetstream 32s plus the Material and Component Repair and Overhaul (MACRO) programme.
The first aircraft, Serial Number 971, was delivered to the airline last week. The remaining four aircraft will be accepted by December 2001.
"Our initial operations from Baneasa International Airport, a 15-minute drive from downtown Bucharest, will offer high frequency scheduled service to the business traveller between the 17 airports in Romania," said Angel Airlines Chief Executive Officer Dan Vulcan. An experienced aviator, Vulcan is the former head of the Romanian Civil Aviation Authority and the former Chairman of Tarom Airline.
The Jetstream 32s will be the first of its type to fly in Romania, marking the country's maturing airline infrastructure. "Eastern Europe is a growing opportunity for the Jetstream as a route developing aircraft. We are pleased that Angel Airlines with its experienced management team and pilots will launch this successful start-up operation," said Michael Canzian, senior vice president, asset management turboprops, BAE Systems.
BAE Systems has provided Angel Airlines with a bonded warehouse of spares at the airport for its exclusive use and has posted a native Romanian in country to oversee the success of the MACRO programme.
MACRO is designed to provide Jetstream operators with a fixed maintenance cost that includes comprehensive spares support for a single fixed rate per aircraft flight hour. "We are pleased to add Angel Airlines to our growing MACRO customer list of 61 Jetstream 32s with nine customers," said David Speirs, senior vice president, support and material, BAE Systems. The programme also supports 36 ATPs with three operators and 45 Jetstream 41s with two customers.
