|
| Date: 06
April, 2005 |
BAE Systems Regional Aircraft has signed a lease with leading Italian regional carrier Air Dolomiti for five BAe 146 jetliners. The airline has selected the Series 300, configured with 99 seats to provide the necessary capacity growth.
Delivery of the first aircraft (E3193) will take place in early April and the remaining four aircraft (E3129, E3149, E3155 and E3169) will follow though the summer months with the entire fleet in place by mid-September.
The airline’s objective in 2005 is to increase capacity by 20% through the phased introduction of the BAe 146s together with the development of its route network, building on load factors last year of 62.2%. Air Dolomiti carried 1.28 million passengers in 2004.
Founded in 1989 by the Leali steel group, with operations commencing in 1991 from its base at Verona, Air Dolomiti is now wholly-owned by Lufthansa and the airline forms part of the Lufthansa Regional brand concept.
Becoming a new BAe 146 operator, Air Dolomiti will use its new aircraft to replace its five smaller 48-seat Bombardier CRJ-200s to provide a substantial increase in capacity from Northern Italian cities to feed the Lufthansa hub network centred on Munich and Frankfurt and to provide convenient connections to other Star Alliance members.
Air Dolomiti prides itself on a high level of customer service and all its aircraft are configured to a spacious comfort standard, with ergonomically designed reclining, leather-covered seats to offer maximum in-flight comfort to passengers. As a result the airline has won numerous awards in recent years, the most recent being the Business Traveller magazine 2005 award in January for best on-board service.
Michael Kraus Chairman and CEO of Air Dolomiti welcomed the arrival of the BAe 146 and said: " We are looking forward to operating the BAe 146 which is renowned as being one of the most spacious and comfortable regional aircraft in service today and we are proud to enter the '100 seat' market for the first time in our history. We feel sure that our passengers will appreciate a new level of interior space and amenity in our highly comfortable 99-seat layout."
About BAE SYSTEMS Regional Aircraft
BAE SYSTEMS Regional Aircraft is responsible for Customer Support, Engineering and Asset Management activities covering a world-wide base of 160 customers operating over 1,100 aircraft in addition to managing a trading and leasing portfolio of some 350 aircraft.
About BAE SYSTEMS
BAE SYSTEMS is an international company engaged in the development, delivery and support of advanced defence and aerospace systems in the air, on land, at sea and in space. The company designs, manufactures and supports military aircraft, surface ships, submarines, fighting vehicles, radar, avionics, communications, electronics and guided weapon systems. It is a pioneer in technology with a heritage stretching back hundreds of years. It is at the forefront of innovation, working to develop the next generation of intelligent defence systems.
BAE SYSTEMS has major operations across five continents and customers in some 130 countries. The company has more than 90,000 people and generates annual sales of approximately £12 billion through its wholly-owned and joint venture operations.
BAE Systems, innovating for a safer world.
For further information contact:
David Dorman, BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0)1582 488336 Fax: +44 (0)1582 488447 ddaviddorman@aol.com
Issued by:
BAE Systems, Farnborough, Hampshire, GU14 6YU, UK
Tel: +44 1252 384695 Fax: +44 (0) 1252 383947
www.baesystems.com
|
|
|
