Air Botnia acquirs five SAAB 2000 aircraft
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN-Saab Aircraft Leasing (SAL) has signed an MoU with Air Botnia to acquire five Saab 2000 aircraft. Air Botnia is the Nordic subsidiary of Star Alliance member SAS and operates principally from Finland. The first aircraft will be delivered in March 2001, replacing 32-seat Saab 340s.
2001-01-18 | Press Release
The 47-seat Saab 2000 is a fast jetprop operating on longer ranges than normal turboprops and carries a full load of passengers 1,000 nm in less than three hours. "On most of the routes the Saab 2000 is able, owing to its high speed capacity, to fly the same timetable as the new Avro RJ85 jets that will enter Air Botnia's fleet starting in May 2001," says Air Botnia President Sveneric Persson.
Conceived in the early 1990s, the Saab 2000 complies with all known and planned environmental regulations on emissions, which was an important factor in Air Botnia's decision. The internal configuration and cabin environment provide the airline with a seamless service level with its two aircraft types, and with its partners.
"At Saab we are delighted that Air Botnia has selected the Saab 2000 after a long evaluation between competing types," says Dag Waldenström, VP Sales and Marketing of Saab Aircraft Leasing. "With six years of active airline operation, the Saab 2000 is a mature and efficient aircraft with a very high standard of technology, which is important in today's tough European operating conditions of high government-imposed costs and regulations," adds Waldenström.
Saab Aircraft Leasing (SAL), headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, together with its US subsidiary Saab Aircraft Leasing, Inc. (SALI), is the world leader in the regional aircraft industry with more than 16 years' experience in financing and leasing Saab 340 and Saab 2000 aircraft. Saab AB, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Saab Aircraft Leasing and Saab Aircraft AB, provides a full-service product to its customers. Saab Aircraft Leasing manages a portfolio of more than 300 Saab 340 and Saab 2000 aircraft placed with 28 airlines in 17 countries.