BAE Systems Regional Aircraft has won a contract for its rate-per-flying-hour aircraft spares support service from Eastern Airways, which covers a three-year support deal for the airline’s fleet of 16 Jetstream 41 turboprop airliners. Eastern Airways operates over 800 flights on a week on a comprehensive network of scheduled domestic and international services and private charter services. BAE Systems has provided support for Eastern Airways’ Jetstream 41 operation for the past 11 years.

The Eastern Airways contract comes three weeks after the company won a similar three-year extension to its support contract from Braathens Technical of Sweden. The Braathens deal covers support for its subsidiary airline Malmö Aviation’s fleet of 12 Avro RJ regional jetliners, which BAE has been providing this service to Braathens Technical/Malmö Aviation for 14 years.

Under these contracts BAE Systems provide a totally customised rotable spares support service which, for an agreed monthly payment based upon the number of flight hours carried out by an airline, the company takes care of the airline’s spares inventory, logistics and repairs.

Sean McGovern, Business Director Support – BAE Systems Regional Aircraft at Prestwick said today: “We are recognised in the commercial aviation industry as being one of the foremost and experienced suppliers of these types of very specialist and demanding support services. Many of our customers come back for repeat business and we have supported many of them for a considerable number of years.

“We are delighted to win this new contract from Eastern Airways which has brought to £35 million the amount of business won over the past year from our customers for these services. We are also working hard to bring in further new business over the next few months.”