Aircraft

Flight International online news 11:30GMT: Swiss International Air Lines is to axe the Embraer ERJ-145 and Saab 2000 regional types from its short-haul network, confirming earlier indications that it would retain only an expanded BAE Systems Avro RJ fleet for regional services.

The airline’s board has decided that, from the beginning of the winter season, the Saab 2000s will no longer be operated while the ERJ-145s will be withdrawn from the fleet by the end of winter.

Swiss operates a 35-strong regional fleet including nine ERJ-145s, seven Saab 2000s, and 19 Avro RJs.

It will increase its Avro RJ complement – currently comprising four RJ85s and 15 RJ100s – to a total of 24 aircraft.

One of its present RJ100s will leave the fleet but the carrier will lease six others over the first quarter of 2006.

The nine ERJ-145s will be leased to other carriers. Swiss says that negotiations to this effect are “already well advanced”.

DAVID KAMINSKI-MORROW/LONDON