BAE Systems reports strong market for Jetstream 41

BAE Systems Regional Aircraft confirms that the market for its portfolio Jetstream 41 remains buoyant and that during 2007 a total of 22 transactions were completed, more than double the 2006 total. Previously confirmed transactions included new leases for 11 aircraft with Eastern Airways of the UK – the world’s largest fleet operator of the type – the lease of four aircraft to new Colombian operator EasyFly S.A. and a lease extension for one aircraft with SA Airlink of South Africa.

Regional Aircraft announces the following new 2007 transactions:

Capital Aviation Holdings has purchased three aircraft (msn 41055, 41058 and 41064) which it is planning to lease into an airline in the Caribbean. The first aircraft is being ferried to Corporate Flight Management’s Smyrna, Tennessee, facility for customisation to the end user’s specifications;

SARPA (Servicios Aereos Panamericanos S.A.) of Medellin, Colombia, has purchased one Jetstream 41 (msn 41089) for delivery during this month. Already a well-established Jetstream 32 operator, SARPA has been flying for over 25 years to support the oil industry in Medellin. Besides its oil contracts, SARPA has branched out to serve other industries in the country and requires the bigger Jetstream 41to fuel its expansion plans;

Sky Express based at Heraklion on the island of Crete, Greece, has purchased two Jetstream 41s (msn 41075 and 41076) to add to its fleet of two Jetstream 32s. Delivery of both aircraft will be made in Spring 2008 in time for the busy summer season. Sky Express has carved out a niche for itself over the past three years by flying thinner routes linking Crete directly with smaller Greek islands such as Rhodes, Lesbos, Samos and Kos using its 19-seat Jetstreams and avoiding transiting through Athens. The addition of the two Jetstream 41s will allow longer direct routes such as from Crete to Thessaloniki to be flown in comfort and also holds the prospect of further onward connections from Thessaloniki into Balkan destinations.