BAE Systems Extends Avro RJ85 Leases with Finnish Carrier Blue 1
Hatfield, UK - Finnish regional carrier, Blue 1, which is a member of the SAS Group, has signed long-term lease extensions with BAE Systems Regional Aircraft on four Avro RJ85s (msn E2388, E2389, E2393, E2394) that will see the aircraft operating well into the next decade with the airline.
The transaction was announced at the European Regions Airlines Association Annual General Assembly in Athens by Steve Doughty, Vice President Sales & Marketing for BAE Systems Regional Aircraft who said today: " We are delighted to have secured this valuable long-term RJ85 lease extension with Blue 1. This means that our product will be operating on mainstream routes linking Finland with the rest of Europe for many years to come."
Responding, Mr Stefan Wentjarvi, President and Chief Executive Officer of Blue 1 said: " Following an extensive fleet evaluation, we are slightly reducing the size of our regional jet operation in favour of acquiring larger aircraft. However, the Avro RJ will continue to be our preferred regional jet solution for many years to come as the aircraft has served us well since introduction into service in 2001."
Blue 1 currently has a fleet of nine Avro RJs (seven RJ85s and two RJ100s), which it operates alongside three Boeing MD-90 jetliners. Two of the RJ85s are being returned to BAE Systems for onward lease to British Airways CityFlyer from Spring 2008.
The Avro RJs are configured in a highly comfortable 5-abreast layout, with 84 and 99 passengers respectively, to meet the needs of the airline's passengers, more than 50 percent of whom are business travellers.
Blue 1 is a regional Star Alliance member and has over 100 daily flights serving seven Finnish destinations and 18 international destinations in Scandinavia and Europe.
