newstodate.aero
Feb 19, 2014 (newstodate): The Swiss carrier Darwin Airlines is reportedly planning for a fleet expansion adding a new aircraft type to the roster.
According to industry sources, Darwin Airlines is negotiating with the Danish turboprop leasing company Nordic Aviation Capital for lease of four or five ATR 72-500 aircraft needed to operate its growing route network under its new brand name, Etihad Regional in cooperation with Etihad.
In the fleet now are 10 SAAB 2000 aircraft, but one ATR 42-500 aircraft has also now been wet-leased to the carrier by the Danish carrier DAT to temporarily cover up for the recent loss of one SAAB 2000 aircraft during an incident.
It is, however, not only plain sailing for Etihad Regional that has had to cancel, or at least delay plans for start of services from this spring from Berlin to Polish destinations Poznan and Wroclaw, reportedly due to the Swiss government's hesitation in approving the application for code-sharing these routes with Etihad.
Besides, the carrier has had to withdraw from several routs served before the hook-up with Etihad, due to EU rules on cabotage preventing Swiss aviation companies from operating domestic flights inside the European Union.
According to industry sources, Darwin Airlines is negotiating with the Danish turboprop leasing company Nordic Aviation Capital for lease of four or five ATR 72-500 aircraft needed to operate its growing route network under its new brand name, Etihad Regional in cooperation with Etihad.
In the fleet now are 10 SAAB 2000 aircraft, but one ATR 42-500 aircraft has also now been wet-leased to the carrier by the Danish carrier DAT to temporarily cover up for the recent loss of one SAAB 2000 aircraft during an incident.
It is, however, not only plain sailing for Etihad Regional that has had to cancel, or at least delay plans for start of services from this spring from Berlin to Polish destinations Poznan and Wroclaw, reportedly due to the Swiss government's hesitation in approving the application for code-sharing these routes with Etihad.
Besides, the carrier has had to withdraw from several routs served before the hook-up with Etihad, due to EU rules on cabotage preventing Swiss aviation companies from operating domestic flights inside the European Union.