Eastern Airways buys Air Southwest

Saturday, 20 Sep, 2010 0

UK independent regional airline Eastern Airways has agreed to buy Air Southwest in a move that will see it expand its network in the southwest of England.

The deal, which is subject to regulatory approval, is expected to be completed next month.

Plymouth-based Sutton Harbour Group formed Air Southwest in 2003 and the airline currently operates from 12 airports using a fleet of five aircraft and employs 135 staff.

Humberside-based Eastern Airways has hubs in Aberdeen, Newcastle and Southampton and a network of scheduled routes primarily serving business communities from 21 airports in the UK, Ireland, Norway and France.

As part of the proposed acquisition, the Air Southwest brand will continue to be used in southwest England for the Plymouth, Newquay and Bristol routes with Eastern Airways brand continuing on routes from the Midlands, the north of England and northeast Scotland.

Eastern Airways’ fleet will also increase to 35 aircraft with the addition of five 50-seat Dash 8 300 turbo-prop aircraft.

In February this year, both airlines formed a strategic partnership, which enabled Air Southwest to join the Global Distribution System and broaden its sales channels for booking flights through the travel trade.

Eastern Airways managing director Richard Lake said: “The integration of the two airlines also enables greater operational flexibility and efficiency as we can look into synergies by bringing both networks and fleets closer together.”

By Linsey McNeill

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Linsey McNeill

Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk

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