Swedish freight operator West Air Europe is looking to replace its seven BAe 748s with leased ATR 72s to meet expected growth in demand for containerised and bulk cargo services in southern and central Europe.
Discussions are under way with at least two potential lessors for two ATRs, but a larger fleet could follow if the type proves successful, says West Air managing director Gustaf Thureborn. The company is also studying possible expansion of its BAe ATP fleet as alternative replacements for the 748s from late 2006.
The ATR 72 is a natural successor to the ageing 748, says Thureborn, and a final decision on whether to acquire the aircraft will be based on "customer requirements". The last of 13 ATPs leased from BAE Systems Regional Aircraft's asset management unit will be delivered in May after a large freight door conversion by Romania's Romaero. The company will seek ATR 72s equipped with a large cargo door installed by France's Aeroconseil or Italy's Aeronavali if it opts to introduce the type.
West Air's ATPs have achieved a dispatch reliability of over 99% for the past two years and its outgoing 748s have bettered 99.5% for the past five, it says. Thureborn says West Air will continue to operate the ATP for some years, but complains that BAE is providing insufficient support, spares and maintenance services for the type, restricting it from operating the aircraft in the most cost-effective manner. "There is no support for us to develop the product," he adds.
However, BAE Systems Regional Aircraft told Flight International: "We are disappointed in this observation as West Air Sweden is a major customer and an important contributor to the ATP Freighter programme, and particularly since our support team have been working closely with West Air on a number of fronts over recent months. We remain very positive about the ATP Freighter programme and the level of interest currently from the market and in 2005 we should see a number of new customers for the programme."
West Air's scheduled freight operations and heavy maintenance are managed from Hovby airport near Lidkoping, with line stations in France, the Netherlands and elsewhere in Sweden. The company, which conducts about 70% of its business into central Europe supporting postal and logistics companies and cargo operators, set up a hub in Luxembourg in 2001 using five locally registered ATPs. Turnover is estimated to be €?45 million ($59 million) this year.
Source: Flight International
