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Loganair and Air Jet expand Saab fleets

Loganair and Air Jet expand Saab fleets British Airways' franchise partner and Scotland's airline Loganair is leasing two more Saab 340Bs, from Saab Aircraft Leasing, boosting its Saab 340 fleet to seven. At the same time, Air Jet of France, a Saab 2000 customer since November last year, is taking two more 2000s from the organisation. Announcing the new transactions at Farnborough 2002 today, Michael Magnusson, President of Saab Aircraft Leasing, noted that this takes the number of Saab 340/2000s placed over the past six months to 15. "The market for 30 and 50-seat turboprops continues to hold up well, especially in Europe," he said. Most recently, three Saab 2000s have been placed with Lithuanian Airlines, seven 340Bs with AeroLitoral of Mexico and one 340A with Transwest Air of Canada. Reviewing the status of the 19, 30 and 50-seat regional aircraft market, Magnusson noted that turboprops continue to account for 81% of departures up to 300 statute mile lengths. In the first quarter of 2002, they accounted for 82% departures in this sector, a drop of just two per cent compared with the same period last year. "During the third quarter of 2002 the Saab 340 accounted for 31% of the average daily departures of 19 to 50-seat aircraft worldwide and the Saab 2000, included in the 50-seat variants, actually showed an 8% increase," he said. "For every Regional Jet departure in Europe today there are 1.7 turboprop departures," he added, noting that the increased business from both Loganair and Air Jet illustrates the demand for 30 and 50-seat turboprops. Loganair's two firm aircraft will be accepted in August and September, and the airline has also confirmed an option on a third. The Glasgow- based airline has also extended the lease on one of its existing 340Bs for a further three years. Air Jet's two additional 2000s will arrive in July and September and will serve Geneva-Bordeaux and Toulouse in commercial collaboration with Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS). Saab Aircraft Leasing manages a portfolio of about 300 Saab 340 and Saab 2000 aircraft leased to 28 airlines around the world. With 38 employees, its head-office is in Washington, DC. Saab Aircraft Leasing is part of the Saab Aviation Services Business Area of Saab AB. Saab is one of the world´s leading high-technology companies, with its main operations focusing on defence, aviation and space. The group covers a broad spectrum of competence and capability in systems integration. For further information please contact: Michael Magnusson John Belanger President Saab Aircraft Leasing Director, Corporate Communications Telephone +1 703 406 7200 Saab Aviation Services Saab Aircraft Leasing Tel: +46 13183101 aviationservices@saab.se ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/07/24/20020724BIT00060/wkr0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/07/24/20020724BIT00060/wkr0002.pdf