23 Apr 2007 | Ref. 120/2007
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BAE Systems Placed Three BAe 146-200s with Airlink of South Africa
Hatfield, United Kingdom. – BAE Systems today announced that it has placed three BAe 146-200 regional jetliners with Airlink, one of South Africa’s regional feeder airlines.
Delivery of the first two aircraft is taking place in mid-April with the remaining aircraft due to follow later in the year. All aircraft will be configured in a comfortable four and six-abreast business/economy layout with seating for up to 89 passengers.
Johannesburg-based Airlink is a long-standing customer of BAE Systems Regional Aircraft and currently operates 15 29-seat Jetstream 41 turboprops – the world’s second largest J41 fleet, two of which are leased to Mozambique Express. The airline also flies five Embraer ERJ-135 regional jets.
Announcing the transaction today, Paul Stirling, Senior Vice President Asset Management of Regional Aircraft said: “Airlink’s decision to add BAe 146 aircraft is another sign of its confidence in BAE Systems products and customer support. The provision of cost-effective air transport solutions to stimulate local and regional commerce, trade and tourism is also another manifestation of BAE Systems’ commitment to South Africa, its economic development and that of the entire region.”
Mr Rodger Foster, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Airlink said today: “The additional aircraft are a step-change in capacity for Airlink. We selected the BAe 146 because it offers our passengers a spacious, comfortable and quiet cabin. In parallel, a BAe 146 solution offers very competitive economics and the most cost-effective means to increase capacity.”
Airlink is a South African Airways alliance partner and currently operates more than 3,500 flights, carrying about 65,000 passengers per month of which 80 percent are business travellers. It provides vital feeder services connecting smaller South African centres with the major hubs at Johannesburg and Cape Town Africa. Airlink also serves more than 20 South African destinations.
The added capacity represented by the BAe 146s enables Airlink to introduce new routes, replace older leased equipment on some of its services and to offer more seats on its most saturated routes.
With its newly acquired aircraft, Airlink will launch flights from Johannesburg to Lusaka, Zambia and Harare, Zimbabwe. The BAe 146 will replace a wet-leased Boeing 737 on Airlink’s services linking Johannesburg with Antananarivo and Nosy Be in Madagascar and Pemba in Mozambique.
Airlink will also upgrade its current ERJ-145 service between Johannesburg and Ndola, Zambia, with the BAe 146. In addition, the BAe146s will replace the ERJ-145 on some peak time domestic sectors, eg. Johannesburg-Nelspruit, allowing for additional capacity at times when O.R. Tambo International Airport is slot-restrained.
About BAE Systems:
BAE Systems is a global 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 88,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded £13.7 billion pounds sterling (US25.4 billion dollars) in 2006.
For further information contact
David Dorman, BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0) 1582 488336 Fax: +44 (0) 1582 488447
Email: ddaviddorman@aol.com
Mike Sweeney, BAE Systems
Tel: + 44 (0)1772 856034 Mobile: + 44 (0)780 171 6452
Email: mike.sweeney2@baesystems.com
Issued by:
BAE Systems, Farnborough, Hampshire, GU14 6YU
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384719 Fax: +44 (0) 1252 383947
www.baesystems.com
