Balearic regional Air Europa Express plans to double its fleet of British Aerospace ATPs to 12 aircraft by early next year to cope with expansion on the Spanish mainland.
The Palma de Majorca-based airline launched services in late 1996 as one half of a two-pronged regional operation set up to feed leading Spanish charter airline Air Europa. Late last year, the other half of the airline, Canarias Regional Air (CRA), which operates a network around the Canary Islands, separated and is now flying three ATPs under its own identity.
Air Europa Express operates six ex-British Airways ATPs leased from British Aerospace Asset Management Turboprops(AMT) from bases in Palma and Barcelona. The airline is understood to have signed a memorandum of understanding to lease six more ex-BA aircraft from AMT, to be used to set up a new ATP base at Madrid. Deliveries are due to begin this year and continue to early 1999.
When finalised, this deal will make Air Europa Express the second largest ATP operator after Manx Airlines. The carrier is also believed to require more aircraft. The airline's stated long-term strategy is to connect Madrid to all the major Spanish cities.
Meanwhile, CRA, which has now added services to Marrakesh in Morocco and to Madeira, is understood to be in negotiations for a fourth ATP.
Source: Flight International
