Max Kingsley-Jones/LONDONRamon Lopez/WASHINGTON DC
SAS COMMUTER has ordered up to six Saab 2000s, which ends the aircraft's two-year new-customer drought. This comes as Saab concludes a three-week sales tour of the aircraft in the USA, where it is still seeking its first airline customer for the 50-seat high-speed turboprop.
A division of SAS, the commuter airline has ordered four Saab 2000s with options on two more. The first two will be delivered in February, with the second two due in April 1997. The Saab 2000 will be operated on the airline's Swedish and Finnish routes from Arlanda, Tampere, Turku and Vaasa. SAS Commuter now uses a 22-strong fleet of 46- to 50-seat Fokker 50s is now used on these regional routes.
SAS Commuter is the first new customer to order the Swedish regional aircraft since late 1994. The previous client, Regional Airlines of France, has a fleet of five 2000s, ordered in December 1994. Total orders now stand at 48, of which 37 have been delivered.
Michael Magnusson, Saab's senior USA-based sales executive, admits that 2000 sales have been slower than expected. Its prospects received a setback in 1995 with its failure to confirm longstanding options with American Eagle - partly because of the departure of American Eagle boss Robert Martens. American, which operates 120 Saab 340s, continues to evaluate the aircraft as well as other types, including the Canadair Regional Jet and the Embraer EMB-145.
Magnusson sees a market in North America for 1,000 Saab 2000s over the next five years. Saab is ready to launch a combi version of the aircraft when a customer steps forward. He says that Canadian operator Calm Air, which holds two options, could be the customer.
Magnusson says that a new commuter aircraft seating 60-89 passengers "-is in the very early days of development", with turbofans and turboprops being considered.
Saab Aircraft and Crossair expect to win approval of a head-up display (HUD)-equipped Saab 2000 in january. Certification work begins in three weeks' time. HUDs made by Flight Dynamics will be installed in all 25 Saab 2000s ordered by the Swiss regional.
Source: Flight International
