25 Jan 2006
BAE Systems Regional Aircraft has leased a further two 29-seat Jetstream 41 turboprop airliners to fast-growing Eastern Airways of the UK. The two aircraft, (msn 41071 and 41074), are due for delivery in April following customisation.
This new lease comes only a few months after Eastern Airways contracted with Regional Aircraft for the lease of two other Jetstream 41s (msn 41039 and 41040). The addition of these four aircraft will bring its Jetstream 41 complement to 21 aircraft, making Eastern Airways the worlds largest fleet operator of the type. In addition, the airline operates four 18-seat Jetstream 32s and four 50-seat Saab 2000 turboprops.
An additional development is that Eastern Airways has taken a lease on a Regional Aircraft hangar at Prestwick and this is being used as a refurbishment and customisation centre for the four newly-leased Jetstream 41s that have been previously operating in the USA. The first two aircraft are in work and will be delivered for line service within several weeks.
An award-winning airline member of the European Regions Airlines Association, Eastern Airways has grown rapidly in recent years on a philosophy of highly entrepreneurial, business-oriented scheduled flights on a network embracing Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bristol, Durham Tees Valley, Edinburgh, Humberside, Inverness, isle of Man, Leeds-Bradford, London Stansted, Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich, Nottingham East Midlands, Southampton, Stornaway and Wick. Services to London City Airport from Newcastle commence in the Spring. Eastern Airways operates some 750 flights each week and will carry approximately 500,000 passengers this year.
To date, Jetstream 41s available for lease have been in very scarce supply. However, with a number of planned returns from airlines in the USA a reasonable supply of these aircraft is becoming available to service the needs of new markets in Europe and further afield.
About BAE SYSTEMS
BAE Systems is an international company engaged in the development, delivery, and support of advanced defence and aerospace systems in the air, on land, at sea, and in space. The Company designs, manufactures, and supports military aircraft, combat vehicles, surface ships, submarines, radar, avionics, communications, electronics, and guided weapon systems. It is a pioneer in technology with a heritage stretching back hundreds of years and is at the forefront of innovation, working to develop the next generation of intelligent defence systems. BAE Systems has major operations across five continents and customers in some 130 countries. The Company employs over 90,000 people and generates annual sales of approximately 14.8 billion through its wholly owned and joint-venture operations.
For further information, please contact:
David Dorman, BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0) 1582 488336 Fax: +44 (0) 1582 488447
ddaviddorman@aol.com
www.baesystems.com/ocs/others/aircraft/index.htm
