Regional Express (Rex) has announced it has purchased 18 Saab 340B+ aircraft which it been operating under a lease.
The airline says the aircraft were part of a group of 25 340s it had been operating on lease since 2006. It says the other seven aircraft had come off lease last July and had also been purchased by the airline.
The purchase means Rex now has a fleet of 51 Saab 340s, all of which it now owns. “Rex committed to leasing these aircraft in late 2006 as part of its fleet modernisation and expansion programme,” COO Garry Filmer said. “Upon lease expiry we had the opportunity of purchasing them at advantageous rates. With a remaining useful life of at least another 20 years, the Saab 340s with their low operating cost and fuel efficient engines will continue to provide sterling service on the Rex network.”
