Au RU Eastern pense racheter Southwest... Eastern Airlines Plans Take Over Of Air Southwest
The UK regional airline sector is set for further consolidation with Humberside-based Eastern Airways planning a take-over of Air Southwest.
Eastern, which is the UK’s second largest regional airline, says the acquisition of its fellow UK operator from parent Sutton Harbour Group is still subject to regulatory approval, but it expects legal completion in October.
Air Southwest operates from 12 airports with a fleet of five Bombardier Dash 8 Q300s and employs 135 staff. Eastern says that following the planned acquisition “the Air Southwest brand will continue to be used in southwest England for the Plymouth, Newquay and Bristol routes.”
The planned take-over follows a tie-up between the two carriers in February, when they formed a strategic partnership.
“Our goal has been to reach an agreement which puts Air Southwest into good hands and I am confident that this deal with Eastern Airways does just that,” says Nigel Godefroy, chief executive of Sutton Harbour Group. “Being part of a larger airline will bring stability to Air Southwest.”
Eastern managing director Richard Lake says the integration will enable “greater operational flexibility and efficiency as we can look into synergies by bringing both networks and fleets closer together.”
Eastern Airways serves 21 airports in the UK, Ireland, Norway and France operating from its base in Humberside and hubs in Aberdeen, Newcastle and Southampton, with a fleet of BAe Jetstream 41, Embraer ERJ-135 and Saab 2000 aircraft. The addition of Air Southwest’s five Dash 8s will increase Eastern’s fleet to 35 aircraft.
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