Finnish regional carrier Blue1, which is a member of the SAS Group, has signed a long-term lease extension with BAE Systems Regional Aircraft on one RJ85 (msn E2392). This lease will see the aircraft operating in the Blue1 fleet well into the next decade.
This transaction follows a deal announced in October last year under which Blue1 extended leases on four other RJ85s in its fleet. At the same time it was confirmed that two other RJ85s currently operating with Blue1 are being returned to BAE Systems for onward lease to BA CityFlyer from Spring 2008. It is also confirmed that one of the two RJ100s operated by Blue1 has been returned to BAE Systems and for onward sale to the Bahrain Defence Force.
Blue1announced that it is slightly reducing the size of its regional jet operation in favour of acquiring larger aircraft. However, the airline states that the Avro RJ continues to be its preferred regional jet solution for many years to come.
