BAE SYSTEMS REGIONAL AIRCRAFT SIGNS RJ70 LEASE AGREEMENT WITH TRANSWEDE AIRWAYS FOR NEW LONDON CITY OPERATION ON BEHALF OF ITALY'S AIR ONE
BAE Systems Regional Aircraft has signed a lease with Transwede Airways for three Avro RJ70s, which this specialised wet lease operator is contracted to use on new routes from London City Airport (LCY) on behalf of Italy's leading independent airline - Air One.
Delivery of the first 70-seat aircraft has just taken place and will be used from November 19 on a new route linking London City with Milan - Linate Airport. Deliveries of the remaining two aircraft will take place in December 2006 and January 2007 and will be deployed on to three other new Air One routes linking LCY with Rome Fiumicino, Turin and Genoa.
Transwede Airways is a sister company to Sweden's Malmö Aviation and the addition of these three RJ70s will bring the combined fleet of the two airlines to 13 aircraft (nine RJ100s; four RJ70s). Transwede already operates one RJ70 on behalf of SAS linking Stockholm Arlanda with London City Airport.
The airline's operation is focussed on wet lease operations concentrated at London City and the new long-term contract from Air One further consolidates its position as a supplier of jet flight capacity at London's city centre airport.
In addition to this lease business Regional Aircraft has also secured a Jetspares 'spares by the hour' support contract from Transwede covering the three RJ70s.
Air One is one of Italy's most successful, dynamic and profitable airlines and is 98% owned by Gruppo Toto, one of the country's leading building and civil engineering groups. Its network covers 25 cities across Italy with 1400 flights a week and in 2005 Air One carried over 5.5 million passengers. All flights are code-shared with Lufthansa.
The Air One fleet consists of around 30 Boeing 737-200/-300/-400s and it has recently taken delivery of the first of 30 Airbus A320-200s it has on order, with a further 60 on option. The airline also has a regional subsidiary - Air One Cityliner - which operates Bombardier CRJ-900s.
The decision of Air One to enter the London City Airport market is indicative of its entrepreneurial spirit and focus on serving the business customer. However, to operate this route, with its steep approach requirement and 1200m runway, meant the acquisition of a new aircraft type. BAE Systems Regional Aircraft was able to work with both AirOne and Transwede to facilitate an economic solution suitable for all parties.
The three aircraft involved in this transaction are msn E1223, E1224 and E1225.
About BAE SYSTEMS
BAE Systems is the premier transatlantic defence and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. With 86,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded GB£15.4 billion (US$28 billion) in 2005.
Fonte: BAE Systems