Issue 22 APRIL/MAY 2009 MARKET REPORT A PUBLICATION OF SAAB AIRCRAFT LEASING

Delta livery replaces northwest colors on SAAB 340Bplus fleet marks 10 years of saab service

murray air expands service under national

saab 2000s fly joe gibbs’ race teams in corporate shuttle style message from Contents Michael Magnusson SAL posts successful 2008 with entire portfolio allocated...... 3

I often get asked these days how the Delta livery replaces Northwest colors recession is affecting us, and so far, I on Saab 340Bplus fleet...... 4 am happy to respond “not that much”. Saab 340s, Saab 2000s and Saab Carpatair marks 10-year anniversary...... 6 Aircraft Leasing’s services are still in strong demand. Activity associated with the small percentage of Saab Saab 340 operates in Air Cargo 340s and Saab 2000s available is in- forwarding business...... 9 credible! We have at least three to four prospects with our available portfolio aircraft and of the eight Saab 340s Saab 2000s fly Joe Gibbs’ Race teams in returned to headlessors over the past corporate shuttle style...... 10 year, all have been placed within 30-60 days. One customer that recently had Argentine Air Force to accept two more to park a few aircraft is now putting them back into service to cover routes Saab 340Bs this summer...... 12 once flown by a major . Western Air grows Saab 340 fleet for Bahamian services...... 13 Now that we are well into the year 2009, it is apparent that the effects of the economic down-turn is wreaking havoc on our industry. Traffic is typically falling about 10 percent for North American and European regions. Thus airlines are uses two of its Saab 340s for freight flights...... 13 cutting back, especially in international markets. One advantage with being a bit more “mature” is that I have seen similar scenarios play out before. This down- Saab website redesigned www.saabaircraftleasing.com...... 14 turn is especially severe, and as usual has an immediate impact on the travel industry. Air travel is something everyone, whether it’s business or leisure, will scale back on quickly. It is an easy decision to make. But the advantages of this Mark your calendar...... 14 sector has already been proven; once people feel a bit more optimistic about the future, they tend to return to air travel quickly. Airline travel has many examples Saab destination: Lynden Pindling of this. Obviously the severity of this global recession makes it more difficult to International Airport (NAS/MYNN)...... 15 predict the pace of the recovery. After September 11, travel did recover quickly. The real question is “How long will it take this time?”. Saab operators map...... 16 The advantage with a smaller aircraft like the Saab 340 is that it gives an airline much flexibility to cut capacity while still maintaining a decent service and frequency. If you are flying larger aircraft, there is less flexibility, unless you are serving a very large market. Another advantage is that the Saab 340 does not require a large number of passengers to justify adding frequencies or service. As a matter of fact, we have recently been contacted by two regional air carriers that specifically want to add Saab 340s because of the major airline service reduc- tions. It will be interesting to see how many more such cases we will see in 2009. At the upcoming RAA convention in Salt Lake City, Utah, I am sure this will be a hot subject; legacy carrier cut-backs and the possible effect on regional carriers.

Within Saab Aircraft Leasing (SAL) we continue with our daily work of supplying our customers with cost-effective aircraft. We had a busy 2008 year end with deliveries to the Argentine Air Force (see related story on page 12) and aircraft we remarketed to Air Panama, both new operators of the Saab 340. We also continue Cover photo by Mesaba Airlines to deliver Saab 340Bplus-WTs to Rex in Australia. In Europe, we were obviously sad to see FlyLAL go out of business but at least all four Saab 2000s have been placed with other existing customers. We have worked with FlyLAL for more than Market Report is published by 10 years and watched that airline grow, but the new economic climate became Saab Aircraft Leasing too much for them to overcome. In Australia, we have seen an established Saab 340 operator, Macair, go out of business as the economic climate took its toll. Editor: Kelly Murphy But on the flip side of the coin, the Saab 340 fleet in the Bahamaseeps k growing, Emerald Media eight Saab 340s in service and more on the way. The same holds true in Poland. [email protected] With two more acquired from Australia’s Rex, the Polish regional carrier Sprint- Air will now operate a total of 11 Saab 340s. It certainly appears that when one Europe: Alison Chambers operator falls on hard times, another carrier is there to grow! Emerald Media [email protected] 2009 will be an interesting year, and probably one of those years that will be analyzed for years to come. At SAL, not only will we work harder to avoid becom- Design and Layout: ing another statistic, but we will also continue to be a leading provider of Saab Aeris Graphic Design [email protected] aircraft worldwide. I look forward to seeing many of you at the upcoming RAA in Salt Lake City to discuss this further!

Printed in USA May 2009 Michael Magnusson ©2009 Saab Aircraft President and CEO, Saab Aircraft Leasing MARKET REPORT

SAAB AIRCRAFT LEASING POSTS SUCCESSFUL 2008 WITH ENTIRE PORTFOLIO ALLOCATED

Saab Aircraft Leasing (SAL) In total, SAL completed 17 aircraft two, Murray extended one, and closed a successful 2008 with transactions last year and was limited Western Air leased one.) SAL also all of its portfolio allocated to by the number of aircraft available. refinanced one Saab 340A for an customers. undisclosed customer. All six available Saab 2000s were “Demand for good Saab air- either allocated or extended. OLT During 2008, SAL successfully craft continues to be strong and extended one and Air Express two. placed two Saab 340Bs on behalf steady,” said SAL President and Eastern Airways added two, and of a third party on long-term lease CEO Michael Magnusson. “As Golden Air took delivery of one with Air Panama which is both a always, we are pleased to see ex- Saab 2000. In addition, SAL sold new customer and a new country isting customers extend leases on one Saab 2000 to Joe Gibbs Racing. for Saab. SAL also placed one Saab our aircraft, while others chose to 340A on behalf of Rex with SOL in add more. During 2008, SAL was The only two available Saab 340Bs Argentina. also able to secure new custom- were extended by Loganair. The ers,” he noted, adding “we foresee only four available Saab 340As SAL’s portfolio at the end of the a small turnover of our aircraft were either leased, extended year consisted of 125 aircraft during 2009.” or sold (Loganair purchased leased to 17 clients in 11 countries.

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Delta livery replaceS northwest colors on SAAB 340Bplus fleet

Delta’s red, white and blue signage The largest Saab 340Bplus operator tive Hilton Head Island, South appeared at former Northwest in the world, Mesaba too has been Carolina service which ended in Airlines hubs in Detroit, Memphis undergoing a revitalization of its December. Other short-haul routes and Minneapolis -St. Paul on April fleet with all of its 49 Saab 340Bplus from Atlanta now served by Saab 1, 2009 as part of its $500-million aircraft eventually to be repainted 340Bplus aircraft include Tri-City. integration effort. All domestic with the Delta livery over the next airports will be re-branded by two years. Don Bornhorst, Senior Vice Pres- yearend and the two merged ident-Delta Connection, in charge major airlines will operate under A long history with Northwest, of the nine affiliated regional a single operating certificate by Mesaba was purchased by the partners, tells Saab Market Report MESABA AIRLINES the end of 2009, as well. Some 33 major airline out of bankruptcy “a -like” service remains SAAB 340Bplus ROUTES NWA aircraft have already been to ensure its continued ability to the priority at the Connection NWA repainted with 250 left to complete serve the smaller, but important, level as well as “selling the Delta DL before the end of 2010. cities in Minnesota, North Dakota, experience.” South Dakota, Iowa, Michigan and YQT DVL TVF INL other heartland markets. Mesaba President John Spanjers GFK BJI HIB CMX DLH echoes Bornhorst’s comments not- MQT CIU JMS BRD IMT PLN Now serving as a Delta Connection ing that Mesaba’s 4,000 employees RHI ESC APN ABR STC CWA carrier, Mesaba’s 49 Saab 340Bplus are integrating into “the Delta EAU ATY MSP YKF aircraft fly from Dallas, Memphis, world” and remain focused on PIR ATW MKG FSD YXU ITH MCW DTW Atlanta and intra-Florida as part of “providing a seamless product” to FOD AZO ERI ALO the new network and fleet plan that its passengers by flying reliably and TOL SUX CID SBN CAK the merged airlines have launched. cost-effectively. DSM LBE PIA BMI FWA CMI In March the Saab 340Bplus’ role expanded the network by offering “We have more than doubled our CHO CRW seven daily departures from Delta’s fleet size in a two-year period COU LEX PAH Atlanta hub and in April six daily increasing from 49 Saab 340Bplus’ TRI departures for intra-Florida ser- to 109 aircraft. Over the last two years, Mesaba has had an incred- FSM MEM vice including Tallahasee, Tampa

MSL Bay and Ft. Lauderdale (see route ible growth cycle and is now TUP ATL map at left). moving into a Delta environ- GLH HHH ment,” Spanjers notes. Emerging MLU The new Saab 340plus hub in from bankruptcy in mid-2007, PIB AEX TLH Atlanta will replace the 12 ATR Mesaba called on its then 3,200 LFT 72s that are currently leaving employees to remain dedicated

MCO Delta’s regional fleet. The move has to a high level of operational TPA allowed Delta to restart its lucra- performance for its mainline

FLL

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“If Delta seems tougher on its regional partners...guilty as charged...we have to maintain flexibility to meet customer demands and have a laser-like focus on reliability and customer service.” Don Bornhorst

partner, Northwest. “It is a credit By the third quarter 2010, the to our employees...their focus has entire Saab 340Bplus fleet will allowed us to take on growth and be repainted in Delta livery and stay true to our core objective to by this fall all of the 30-seaters be cost competitive.” will have undergone an extensive interior refurbishment program in- Northwest started deliveries cluding new leather seat cushions of 36 CRJ900 regional jets in and carpeting. “This fits our over- June 2007 which was completed all objective to provide a seamless in December 2008. Then in service product to our passengers. February 2009, Delta moved We are stepping up our Saab cab- Growing up near the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport five CRJs to Mesaba’s operation ins to make sure the experience on challenging the carrier again to the aircraft is one that they want to in Erlanger, Kentucky, Don Bornhorst caught the aviation bug back then operate out of a new location – come back to,” says Spanjers. and immediately became interested in his start-up hometown airline Salt Lake City and this summer . As a high-school senior, Bornhorst bought 100 shares in Comair New York’s JFK airport. Some In addition, new PDAs, developed and followed the airline’s growth in his college years while studying 19 CRJ200s are also operated by by AeroData, have been installed Mesaba from its Minneapolis on each Saab aircraft allowing crews business at Eastern Kentucky University. A certified public accountant, and Detroit hubs. to retrieve real-time, computerized Bornhorst joined Comair in 1991 as Manager-Internal Audit and Special weight and balance information. Projects. At age 42, Bornhorst was promoted to President of Comair in May 2006, after working in every major operating group at the . During his 16 years at Comair, he served as CFO, Vice President- Information Systems and Senior Vice President of Customers with oversight of Customer Services and In-Flight.

In October 2007, he departed Comair to head Delta Connection program responsible for the day-to-day operations of its nine affiliated regional partners.

“If Delta seems tougher on its regional partners...guilty as charged...we Photo: Mesaba Airlines have to maintain flexibility to meet customer demands and have a laser- like focus on reliability and customer service.” he underlines.

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Carpatair marks 10-year aNniversary story and photos BY eryl crump

Carpatair, one of Europe’s “Undoubtedly, 2009 will be a very Carpatair operates services from Ties to Moritz Suter’s leading regional airlines cele- serious test for everyone. The highs its hub at Timisoara to nine Ro- One of those investors is Crossair brates its 10th anniversary this and lows in the aviation industry manian cities which then connect Founder Moritz Suter. He recalls: year. The Romanian carrier is are not unusual phenomena, they to destinations in Italy, Germany “One day, Nicolae walked into my looking forward to its second occur suddenly as the turbulence and Greece. Last year, flights were office and asked whether he could decade with confidence on the we often meet in the air.” launched to link the hub with Vi- lease a Saab 340 aircraft. At the back of a strong performance enna and to the Ukrainian cities time, Moldavian Airlines operated last year. In the past, Carpatair had followed of Kiev and Odessa. the Yak-40 that, despite its three a cautious growth strategy avoid- jet engines, was much slower, Despite the economic downturn ing excesses. The flexibility and “This is our growth strategy: to used about three times more fuel and the steep rise in fuel prices adaptability are the most valuable unite, through our Timisoara- and had five seats less than the Carpatair recorded a turnover of qualities an organization needs based hub, Greece, Germany . €90.5 million representing a 10 to meet the unforeseeable, Petrov and Italy, with the former USSR percent growth compared to 2007. notes. countries,” explains Petrov. “Nicolae wanted to change to a The number of passengers carried modern and fuel-efficient western rose by 10 percent, and Carpatair “Therefore, this year we speak less Carpatair was formed as Veg Air aircraft. As a young, dynamic, managed to register a “positive about growth or expansion plans in early 1999 by Petrov, who had western-oriented entrepreneur operating result” of more than €3 and more about offering sustainable earlier founded sister carrier he convinced me very quickly; million. and reliable flight services. Follow- Moldavian Airlines and initially we speak the same language, and ing this policy, Carpatair will focus operated a single leased Yakovlev moreover he is a most likeable Carpatair Founder and Chief on adjusting the network to actual Yak-40 from Moldavian Airlines. person. So I agreed to lease the Executive Officer Nicolae Petrov demand and concentrate on the Flights started from Cluj-Napoca Saab. At that time Moldavian tells Saab Market Report: quality of the product.” to Venice and Budapest. Airlines’ capital was very thin,

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“…we had to choose a new aircraft type to replace the 340s. The solution, I believe, was innate: the Saab 2000, the Saab 340’s bigger sister.”

Carpatair Founder and Chief Executive Officer Nicolae Petrov

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sometimes they had troubles in greater cruising speed and better In December 1999, after the Swiss paying the lease rates, which is why equipped technically became and Swedish investors took a 49% I suggested to Nicolae that I would apparent. stake in the company, the airline assemble a group of loyal investors, adopted its present title. among my good old friends to “Then again, we had to choose a generate the necessary increase in new aircraft type to replace the Suter explains, “Carpatair follows share capital and put the company 340s. The solution, I believe, was the niche market concept just as on a sound financial basis.” innate: the Saab 2000, the Saab Crossair did. It links all impor- 340’s bigger sister. The Saab 2000 tant Romanian cities with its hub Petrov agreed. While the Yak was with its 50 seats, superior flight in Timisoara, and from there all “reliable and robust,“ the time for performance, advanced techni- of Romania with the destinations such airplanes was long gone. cal equipment, enhanced safety in western Europe that are systems, comfort and economics relevant for the country and “As an airplane, the Saab 340 was proved fully compatible with our its economy. At one of our last Carpatair’s growth our natural choice. The fleet of enlarged regional routes network shareholders meetings, Georg strategy is to Carpatair reached a maximum and fit in perfectly. Wiederkehr made the true com- connect Greece, of eight such airplanes. By 2003, ment that Carpatair is all that is Germany and Italy when the number of destina- “Thus, we went on replacing left over from good old Crossair.” with the former USSR tions increased and diversified, the Saab 340 with the Saab 2000 countries through the necessity of an airplane with aircraft, which was completed in its Timisoara hub more seats and a greater range, December 2007,” Petrov underlines.

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Saab 340 operates in national airlines air cargo forwarding business

BY kelly murphy

Murray Air, a DC-8 freight operator, and its sister company, Murray In November 2006, the right opportunity did appear and Orchard Park, Aviation, a Part 135 passenger and freight carrier, merged operations in New York-based National Airlines purchased Murray. A freight forward- April 2005 under Murray Air’s newly acquired Part 121 certificate. The er with offices throughout Europe, the Middle East and Asia, National Ypsilanti, Michigan-based companies, run by Murray brothers Preston is a major supplier of transportation services to the US military. Murray and Mark since 1985, successfully steered the two operations through Air, with its three DC-8 cargo aircraft, one Saab 340 and one Jetstream the post-September 11 aviation downturn and decided the merger would 31, offers both air cargo transport and convenient corporate shuttle and provide the company with long-term growth and viability in the industry. charter services primarily for the automotive industry. Murray Air is also a member of the US Military’s Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF) program.

Becoming a private pilot in the late “The buyout took us from a domestic carrier to an international opera- 1960s, Preston Murray had always tion with presence in some 60 countries around the world from Orchard envisaged himself working in com- Park, New York to Frankfurt in Europe, Dubai in the Middle East and mercial aviation. At age 36, he left Kuala Lumpur in Asia,” Preston tells Saab Market Report, adding the a government job in Washington, corporate identity also shifted with Mark departing the company and DC, and started living that dream Preston agreeing to remain as CEO of National Airlines. In 2008, Preston by obtaining a Part 135 certificate took over as CEO of the parent company, National Air Cargo. and then expanding to a Part 121 certificate. “I ended up selling to With a corporate philosophy of “we provide solutions”, National Airlines National Airlines as part of a strategic President Tom Quehl is Murray’s former director of operations. Some positioning. I saw comparable-sized 500 employees are based in various offices worldwide with about 100 airlines struggling to keep their doors dedicated to the airline scheduled passenger service operation and the open. National Airlines needed a 121 National Airlines CEO Preston Murray remaining in the air cargo forwarder company. certificate and more lift, and we saw the opportunity to share a similar business culture and a productive The comfort and convenience of the corporate shuttle service have agreement for both companies.” provided an essential part of the auto manufacturer’s corporate plan to Murray underlines the measure of success is apparent in the compli- remain cost-effective while withstanding the downsizing of this industry. mentary relationship that has strategically placed both companies in a Operating from Ypsilanti’s Willow Run Airport, just south of Detroit, strong position. All key employees were also maintained post-merger. the Saab 340 has provided employees the ability to efficiently move from plant sites to executive offices. Murray continued to work on his ratings and actually received his ATP captain rating and flew the line until 1993. He also owned a Beech Forecasting a strong year in 2009, Preston acknowledges that the com- King Air and flew it himself until 1994. pany is also seeking additional government work to offset the downsizing auto industry. Asked for his future airline industry predictions, Preston offers “… you’re trying to forecast what the levels of aviation activity will be A participant of the Saab customer support program, Parts Exchange related to the equation “will there be more people or goods flown?” or Program (PEP), Murray notes that “PEP has been very helpful and “will there be more goods flown than people?” either way the sum of cost-effective and saves us a lot of money.” The Saab 340 is on long-term this is “more goods and people will be moved by air transport, so it’s a lease and “has been a great airplane for us. I would look to add more, good business to be in and has a strong future.” but the key is the return of the economy and the related increase in commercial business.”

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SAAB 2000s FLY JOE GIBBS’ RACE TEAMS IN CORPORATE SHUTTLE STYLE BY kelly murphy

NASCAR racing has become The Joe Gibbs Racing Flight weekends out of the year, the the second largest sport in the Department is now operating its Concord, North Carolina-based United States, after profes- two Saab 2000s and eight-seat Flight Department has relied sional football, with an average Lear 31As much like an airline heavily on the Saab 2000’s “great 75 million TV spectators for would, Director-Aviation Ivan speed and tremendous fuel effi- each race. The racing season Beach tells Saab Market Report. ciency” to run a reliable corpo- runs from mid-February until Along with his Chief Pilot, Mark rate shuttle service, says Beach. mid-November during which Thorpe, and his Flight Standards there are 36 races held around Captain, Doug Runyon, he has Each Saab 2000, configured with the continental United States. implemented a standardization 43 and 44 seats, logs about 360 While the majority of actual program including standard- flight hours annually, with the races take place on Sundays, ized cockpit procedures, system Lear accumulating 400 hours. teams need to be positioned by checks and cockpit flows on both Flights from Concord are as Thursday to prepare. The fuel aircraft types. The JGR flight de- far west as Ontario, CA, as well efficient and fast Saab 2000 is partment is currently working on as other key cities: Las Vegas, the workhorse for Joe Gibbs a Safety Management System. NV, Phoenix, AZ and Montreal, Racing which includes three Canada. Sprint Cup race teams and two Moving nearly 100 race team Nationwide teams. members and executives 36

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Flight department run as the Apache and Cobra attack heli- highly motivated and professional a team copters. He has over 21,000 flight Aircraft Maintenance Technicians “We are one team,” Beach says, hours in his logbook. who are on staff. “I haven’t seen a explaining how every person in group of aircraft maintainers with the flight department is incorpo- Similarly, Chief Pilot Mark Thorpe this level of commitment since my rated into the overall structure and Flight Standards Captain Army days,” he notes. with delegated responsibility Doug Runyon are high-time for- and authority to do their job. “As mer airline pilots. Thorpe is a rated Beach adds the Saab 2000’s surplus a team, we value the efforts of Saab captain, and Runyon is dual power will allow expanded seat- every member of the department qualified as a Saab captain and ing as needed if the race team from aircraft cleaners to manag- Lear 31 captain. Runyon has the expands. “We could go up to 45 ers,” he explains. additional distinction of being the seats, even 58, if a fourth team only Saab 2000 simulator check comes up,” he underlines. “The Drawing on his 30+ years of airman in the US outside of Flight Saab 2000 is simply the best “The next flying for four airlines, Beach is Safety International. Working very airframe available for our mis- also a retired Army helicopter closely with his Director-Main- sion profile in every respect. Its pilot who commanded an Apache tenance Steve Cole, Beach is also combination of speed, short field best helicopter battalion as well as an assisted by Jan Eads, a long-time capability, payload, fuel efficiency Aviation Brigade. He retired as aviation coordinator and scheduler and low hourly operating cost are a full Colonel. Beach is rated in for owner Joe Gibbs. at the top of its class. As our Chief airplane the A330, A320, B727, B737, G-1, Pilot says, “the next best airplane YS-11, Saab 2000 and six different Beach attributes much of the for our mission doesn’t exist.” for our military helicopters that include Department’s success to the mission doesn’t exist.” Chief Pilot Mark Thorpe JGR Flight Department

(Left to right) JGR Flight Department members: Chief Pilot Mark Thorpe, Director-Aviation Ivan Beach and Director- Maintenance Steve Cole

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Saab 340B parked in Comodoro Rivadavia hangar Argentine Air Force to accept two more Saab 340Bs this summer

Saab Aircraft Leasing (SAL) in co- clared the winner in late 2007 and TAWS, expanded DFDR and rein- operation with Saab Aerotech will a final agreement was formalized forced cockpit doors. deliver the third and fourth Saab for four completely overhauled Project teams from 340B in June and July 2009. The Saab 340B aircraft together with Saab Aircraft Leasing and Saab the Argentine Air first two aircraft were delivered a complete logistic package of Aerotech have also secured Saab Force and Saab in the fourth quarter of 2008. The spares, manuals, tools, ground sup- 340B contracts from the Swedish Aircraft Leasing pose deliveries are a culmination of a port equipment, training of pilots Air Force as well as the Japanese in front of the Saab four-year process to select a new and mechanics, Saab on-location Coast Guard. 340B during a delivery middle-size transport aircraft for technical support as well as a Parts in Nashville the Argentine Air Force. Exchange Program (PEP) on the rotables including propeller and The total budget for the aircraft landing gear. and logistics support package is approximately $34 million spread All four aircraft will be based and over five years. maintained in Comodoro Rivadavia. The Saab 340Bs will be operated The Saab 340Bs will be used to by the Air Force-managed airline serve remote areas in the Patago- Lineas Aéreas del Estado (LADE) nia region in southern Argentina, serving the Patagonia region. For replacing aging Fokker F27s. The this reason all aircraft will have Argentine Air Force ran an inter- gravel modification as well as national RFP process in order to expanded communication equip- select the best package of aircraft ment. They will also meet the latest and support services. SAL was de- civilian requirements on TCAS-2,

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WESTERN AIR GROWS SAAB 340 FLEET FOR BAHAMIAN SERVICES by Kelly Murphy

At press time, Western Air of was anticipating delivery of Having launched Saab 340 service last year with its first two 33-seaters, its fifth Saab 340A for its growing intra-island route network throughout Western Air also operates eight 19-seat Fairchild Metros for scheduled Nassau, Freeport and the . passenger service, and one 12-seat Fairchild Merlin IV and one 7-seat Piper Chieftain for corporate or executive charter flights. One of its more popular Saab 340 routes, Nassau-Freeport offered three times daily, is boasting a 75-85 percent load factor, President Rex Rolle Nearly two years ago, Western Air established an on-demand executive tells Saab Market Report. Other services include twice daily service to charter division called Vision Air with three 19-seat Beech 1900Cs. Congo Town and Andros Town from Nassau. Plans to build a Freeport facility The 100% Bahamian owned company is based at the San Andros Airport (MYAN) featuring a new hangar and passenger waiting facility. Rolle has plans to build a similar facility on three leased acres in Freeport includ- ing a 16,800 square foot hangar and 9,000 square feet of FBO area. Future destinations include Cap-Haitien, Santo Domingo and Turks and Caicos.

“We have a very good relationship with Saab,” Rolle says, adding “the fuel burn between the Saab 340 and the smaller 19-seat Beech 1900C is almost the same.” Western Air Saab 340s at Andros Airport (See related story in Saab Market Report, December 2007, page 3)

LOGANAIR uses two of its SAAB 340s for freight flights story and photos BY eryl crump

Two of Loganair’s hard-working awarded another mail contract. Saab 340s are carrying out new This aircraft is based at Inverness tasks for the airline. and operates a triangular flight each night from the Highland city Since last December, the Glasgow- to Benbecula and Stornoway in the based airline has stationed its two Western Isles. Saab 340As at Aberdeen Airport after winning a contract to carry Aviation has arranged letters and parcels on behalf of the ACMI lease of the Saab 340A the Royal Mail. Both aircraft have freighter from Avion Express of Loganair’s Saab 340A at Glasgow airport (above) been adapted to the freight only Lithuania. Skyways Aviation has and at Inverness airport (below) role and carry out nightly return worked with Loganair for many flights from Aberdeen to Edin- years, having previously placed burgh and East Midlands Airport. three aircraft and a GE CT7 engine with the Scottish airline. Loganair Loganair, which last year signed a has also called upon the com- franchise agreement with leading pany several times since to source UK regional airline , are oper- ACMI cover for its short-term ating the aircraft in their own right aircraft requirements. and both carry their logo only. Loganair operates a total of 14 In early March, a third freight Saab 340Bs on scheduled passen- carrying Saab 340 was drafted in ger services. by Loganair after the airline was

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SAAB website redesigned www.saabaircraftleasing.com

Visit the redesigned Saab Aircraft Leasing website featuring the new Saab Group corporate identity.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR…

MAY May 5-8 RACCA Scottsdale, AZ Saab Booth at RAA May 18-21 RAA Annual Convention Annual Convention in Salt Lake City, UT Indianapolis May 2008 SEPTEMBER September 14-16 Saab 2000 Operators Conference Linköping, OCTOBER October 1-2 RAAA Coolum QLD, Australia October 7-9 ERA General Assembly Interlaken, Switzerland October 20-22 NBAA Convention Orlando, FL October 26-27 US Valuation Conference Washington, DC NOVEMBER November 2-4 SpeedNews Regional & Corporate Aviation Conference Rancho Mirage, CA November 15-17 ATAC 2009 Annual General Meeting Quebec City, QC

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saab destinations SAAB website redesigned BY paul bryson www.saabaircraftleasing.com Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS/MYNN) Photo: Kelly Murphy A famous quotation reads and offers flights to many of the 31 ‘Desperate times call for districts in the Bahamas. NAS is drastic measures’ and in this home to two Saab 340 operators, desperate day of increas- Western Air and SkyBahamas, and ing financial turmoil that has it also serves as a cargo destina- touched almost every part of tion for Saab 340A cargo operator, the globe, our drastic mea- IBC Airways out of Ft. Lauderdale, sure will require a journey into FL. Western Air currently oper- the beautiful, sun-drenched ates two Saab 340As with plans to islands of the Bahamas. This bring three more on line shortly. SMR Destination will find us at They have scheduled service into the Lynden Pindling Interna- San Andros, Bimini, , and tional Airport (NAS). Freeport, and they also run charter

flights down to Haiti several times Photo: Paul Aranha The airport was founded in 1957 weekly. SkyBahamas operates and opened its doors at once for three Saab 340As and serves the tourist trade. It wasn’t until Exuma, Freeport, Abaco, and almost 50 years after the airport Bimini. was developed, that it was officially renamed from the Nassau Inter- There are two modern, paved run- national Airport to the Lynden ways available with the longest one Pindling International Airport. at 11,353 ft. This generous distance This move commemorated Sir will accommodate large aircraft Lynden Oscar Pindling, who including the French carrier, XL served as the first black Premier of Airways’ 364-seat Airbus 330. the Colony of the Bahama Islands (1967-1969). “Sir Lynden”, the first Even though most aircraft services Prime Minister of the Bahamas are available at NAS, don’t expect Photo: Kelly Murphy (1969-1992), was instrumental to find a large variety of boutiques, in attaining The Bahamas their restaurants, duty free shops or independence. even business/conference facilities within the terminal walls. These NAS is home to numerous services, which are found outside top to bottom: Saab operators the airport grounds, are a major IBC Airways loading cargo at NAS The airport is located on the west- contributor to the local economy. SkyBahamas readies for take-off at NAS ern side of New Providence Island In 2008, an airport expansion Western Air Saab 340 parked at Andros

project was approved and for the The Bahamas always has some- next few years NAS will undergo thing new to discover, and in 1492 changes including 10 jet-bridge when Christopher Columbus capable gates, four of which will journeyed to the New World, accept a Boeing 747 sized aircraft he set foot on the island of San and one that will greet the world’s Salvador in the Bahamas and largest commercial , the remarked “baja mar”. The transla- Airbus 380. Expect to see much of tion “shallow water” or “shallow the new design to incorporate the sea” is another of Columbus’ great local colors and textures of native discoveries Bahamian art.

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OPERATIONAL STATUS SAAB 340 414 aircraft in service 58 operators in 31 countries 13.4 million flight hours 14.9 million flights SAAB 340 SAAB 2000 SAAB 2000 SAAB 340 & 2000 58 aircraft in service 14 operators in 10 countries 1.2 million flight hours 1.2 million flights

(as of March 2009)

Operator Country 340 2000 Operator Country 340 2000 Operator Country 340 2000 Americas Americas Europe & Africa

AeroMexico Connect Mexico 2 TAG Guatemala 1 NextJet Sweden 4

Air Panama Panama 2 Transwest 3 Norse Air South Africa 3

Bimini Island Air USA 2 Vigo Jet Mexico 1 NRT Gabon 2

Calm Air Canada 6 Western Air Bahamas 4 OLT Germany 2 3

Caribair Dominican Rep. 2 Nigeria 1

Colgan Airways USA 34 Europe & Africa Polet Airlines Russia 6

Corporate Express Canada 1 2 RAF-AVIA Latvia 2

Ginn Development USA 2 Airfast Congo 1 Robin Hood Aviation Austria 2

Hendrick Motorsports USA 3 Avion Express Lithuania 3 Ryjet Spain 1

IBC Airways USA 9 Nordic Sweden 13 SkyTaxi Poland 2

JMJ Flight Services USA 1 Carpatair Romania 12 Solinair Slovenia 3

Joe Gibbs Racing USA 2 Central Connect Airlines Czech Republic 7 South Airlines Ukraine 2

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