Regional Express (Rex) today announced the sale of a Saab 340A VH-KEQ aircraft to Bridges Worldwide Express. The aircraft was commissioned by the latter to be converted to a cargo freighter.
Commenting on the sale, Rex General Manager of Network Strategy and Sales said, “The aircraft is one of eight A-model Saab 340 aircraft fully owned by Rex and belongs to the first generation of the Saab 340 aircraft built by Saab. With the phased introduction of 25 latest-generation Saab 340B plus aircraft into the Rex fleet, we believe that it is now time to phase out the earlier model aircraft.”
“The A-models are in hot demand as cargo freighters especially in Europe as the high fuel prices make these turbo-prop aircraft unbeatable for the three and a half ton freight market. Rex intends to convert its remaining 7 A-model aircraft into freighters, some for use by its fully owned subsidiary Pel-Air and the remainder to be sold”
“Rex is proud to have carried out its first freighter conversion successfully in only 4 weeks and has now started the second conversion for use by our subsidiary Pel-Air.”
After receiving the aircraft in its new Bridges livery over at Slovenia, Guy Bridges, Managing Director and founder of Bridges Worldwide Express said, “This aircraft will be used to augment our existing network of in excess of 20 regional freighters that are deployed in the European emerging markets, which includes a fleet of wholly owned Saab freighters. We have found these aircraft to be ideally suited to the regional express environment in Europe and we intend to continue to expand our fleet of Saab freighters with additional purchases over the next few months.”
“I would like to pay tribute to the professionalism of the Rex team. They managed to complete the entire conversion, paint the aircraft and install additional avionics like FMS (Flight Management System) in the very tight deadline of 2 months. The final outcome has been especially pleasing.”
Rex is Australia’s largest independent regional airline operating a fleet of 39 Saab 340 aircraft on more than 1,200 flights weekly to 23 destinations from Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. The Rex Group comprises Regional Express, air freight and charter operator Pel-Air Aviation and Dubbo based regional airline Air Link, as well as the pilot academy Australian Airline Pilot Academy.
Bridges Worldwide, founded in 1989, is the largest independent network provider to the express industry operating over 200 flights per working day, carrying in excess of 450 tons of express materials per week, using both regional freighters and scheduled airline commercial flights, servicing over 100 locations around the world.
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