Eastern Airways Fleet??

[david_wilding]

Hello All,
I have noticed Eastern Airways have changed their fleet about a bit the last few months.

Does anyone know why they are doing all this?

I know they have changed the previous ERJ-145 for another one and are continuing the Soutampton to Aberdeen route. Also the increase of Saabs on the Norwich to Aberdeen route. They had taken on board SE-LOX a while ago, and now taken SE-LOM as maintenance cover, and i am aware of a third 2000, G-CDEB, which is apparently leased from Saab. I beleive SE-LOX is to return to be returned March next year. Is G-CDEB future takeover from that??

Thankyou.

[Oshkosh George]

I saw a story somewhere which said they are looking for larger aircraft to replace the Jetstreams,but can't for the life of me remember where I saw it! Perhaps more SAABs?

[Northern Hero]

Noticed G-CCTJ recently also or is this 'OM' re-registered ?

[david_wilding]

Oh right! would be a shame to see the lovely old Jetstreams go!

But i doubt they will replace all the routes with Saabs. They dont get enough pax to make it worth running a 50 seater on. When i have been working over at Stansted before, they have only had a maximum of 15/16 people on the Manchester flight. Which is only half the Jetstream pax capacity.

[Oshkosh George]

SE-LOM is c/n 035
G-CCTJ is c/n 007
So not the same aircraft!

I think they would have to broaden their appeal/lower their fares to operate all 50 seaters!

[david_wilding]

What aircraft type is G-CCTJ? not ERJ is it? As i am aware of their current only ERJ being G-CCYH. And their previous was G-CCLD.

[Oshkosh George]

G-CCTJ is a SAAB 2000.

[david_wilding]

Oh! I only knew they had G-CDEB (Not sure what that aircraft does), SE-LOX and SE-LOM. They dont have an extra Saab to replace the ERJ when it goes onto lease to BMI Regional early next year?

[Oshkosh George]

David,have a look at this,but doesn't appear to be completely up to date--no G-CCTJ.

http://www.jethros.i12.com/FLEETS/Listings/EASTERN_AIRWAYS.html

[david_wilding]

Yes lol, i have been looking on there previously. Thats where i was getting the fleet information from. I wonder how he gets that inside information, as there arnt any pictures online or Eastern Airways' website doesnt say they have more than one Saab 2000.

[Oshkosh George]

Go to this site,type in G-CCTJ,then 'search',then click on 'photo 001' near bottom of page.

http://www.caa.co.uk/srg/aircraft_register/ginfo/search.asp

[mmeteesside]

If you have a search on the CAA site you'll find that G-CDEB is still 'awaiting certification' on it's CofA

[niknak]

One SAAB in Eastern colours, sits in the storage area at Norwich feeling very sorry for itself.
Allegedly, it was purchased and on the ferry flight from Sweden, it suffered wing flex of huge proportions (up to 1m!).
:confused:

[david_wilding]

oh thats a shame!

Does anyone know of any future expansion plans lined up at Eastern?

[we_never_change]

There was a rumour of Newcastle to London City route with BAe Jetstream 41 to begin with, possibly with an upgrading to a Saab 2000 if it is succesful.

VLM currently serve LPL & MAN quite succesfully from LCY, bmi Regional serve LCY from LBA & Scot Airways serve various Scottish destinations from City so if the above rumour is true, I can't see why it shouldn't work aslong as they get the fares & advertising right.

WNC

[ALLMCC]

Suspect there may be a few more changes ahead particularly if Flybe begin to muscle in on current Eastern territory - now that Flybe are to begin operating from ABZ to BHD, the BFS will almost certainly go. If Flybe decide to try ABZ to their new base at NOR, this would conceivably cause Eastern real problems in competing due to their higher fares.

Looking at the route structure of both, there are several routes which could be open to attack from Flybe.

[FinalsToLand]

Flybe are also operating NCL-SOU in competition with Eastern and the route is doing very well,

F.T.L

[GrahamK]

FlyBe NCL-SOU goes to 2 Daily next summer using Bae146-200 and DHC-8-400 a.c

Eastern remains 3 Daily on the route

[The SSK]

There's a feature article on Eastern in this month's Air Transport World magazine.

"...expects to add more cities and about five more J41s in the coming year" - happy with turboprops but impressed with 328JET, likes ERJ-145 but not economically viable for most of their routes.

"For a regional operator who is running a wide variety of routes, you need a selection of airplanes [it's a US publication] that are appropriate for the time of year, the demand, the capacity and the frequency"

[Oshkosh George]

This from Justplanes.com

Eastern Airways has taken delivery of 2 Saab 2000s. The airline will base one at Norwich Airport in order to expand its operation there including a 4th weekday flight to Edinburgh from early January. Eastern now has a total of 3 Saab 2000s.

edited to say there's nothing about it on Eastern's website.

[Evo Six]

Eastern recently aquired another JS41 G-MAJN and are apparently in the market for more 41s. However, there have also been rumours that Do328 jets were on Eastern's wish list aswell as more Saab 2000. Some have suggested they may get rid of the ERJ and replace it with a Saab which can supposedly offer similar flight time but with increased fuel economy....or something like that. Anyway alot of this is simply rumour. Also, a new airline named City Star is begining flights between ABZ and LCY but as of yet it hasn't moved from the East Apron at ABZ.

[FinalsToLand]

JN is an ex Sun Air machine and i think they have at least 1 more heading easterns way as sun air replace their JS41's with DO328's.

F.T.L

[Fried_Chicken]

OYSVW to be GMAJO on delivery to Eastern

Fried Chicken

[5711N0205W]

Notwithstanding the topic of the thread someone mentioned City Star, they have in fact announced they will operate ABZ - OSL from 2005 not LCY.

[Flightrider]

I thought someone had dropped 'SVW off its jacks during a major check in Billund a few weeks ago and that any prospect of it being delivered to Eastern any time soon had gone out of the window?

[urdy gurdy]

i love jetstreams me