newstodate.aero
Oct 05, 2016 (newstodate): Traditionally a Fokker 50 operator, the Swedish carrier Amapola is most satisfied with the performance of the ATR72 aircraft currently in the fleet for postal operations in Sweden.
The three ATR72 freighters are operating on a dry-lease contract with the Spanish carrier Swiftair for Amapola on specific postal routes requiring larger capacity for the special postal containers, actually carrying 42 compared to 36 units offered by the Fokker 50.
-The Swiftair aircraft gives us excellent opportunities for evaluating this aircraft type as a potential replacement of the Fokker 50 that will still have 10-15 years of operational lifetime left but offering less capacity, says Frank Christensen, Amapola CEO.
-There are actually few alternatives open for us as our postal traffic calls for turboprop aircraft. ATP and Bombardier Dash-8 aircraft fall within this category but the ATR types of aircraft may be a good match for us.
-Anyway, our current contract since January 1 with Post Sweden still runs for 3.5 years, leaving us time to evaluate the future fleet composition. In the meantime, the Fokker 50 remains a very efficient aircraft with low maintenance costs as there is abundant stores of spares and components around.
-Also the Fokker 50 is still in demand in many markets outside Europe so the fleet also represents a capital reserve to support future aircraft acquisitions, says Mr Christensen.
In the fleet of Amapola are now 12 Fokker 50 freighters including two with large cargo doors, as well as two Fokker 50 passenger aircraft, one of which is on a long-term contract in Italy while the second aircraft is dedicated to high-yield ad-hoc charters in the markets for AOG, corporate and sports events assignments.
The three ATR72 freighters are operating on a dry-lease contract with the Spanish carrier Swiftair for Amapola on specific postal routes requiring larger capacity for the special postal containers, actually carrying 42 compared to 36 units offered by the Fokker 50.
-The Swiftair aircraft gives us excellent opportunities for evaluating this aircraft type as a potential replacement of the Fokker 50 that will still have 10-15 years of operational lifetime left but offering less capacity, says Frank Christensen, Amapola CEO.
-There are actually few alternatives open for us as our postal traffic calls for turboprop aircraft. ATP and Bombardier Dash-8 aircraft fall within this category but the ATR types of aircraft may be a good match for us.
-Anyway, our current contract since January 1 with Post Sweden still runs for 3.5 years, leaving us time to evaluate the future fleet composition. In the meantime, the Fokker 50 remains a very efficient aircraft with low maintenance costs as there is abundant stores of spares and components around.
-Also the Fokker 50 is still in demand in many markets outside Europe so the fleet also represents a capital reserve to support future aircraft acquisitions, says Mr Christensen.
In the fleet of Amapola are now 12 Fokker 50 freighters including two with large cargo doors, as well as two Fokker 50 passenger aircraft, one of which is on a long-term contract in Italy while the second aircraft is dedicated to high-yield ad-hoc charters in the markets for AOG, corporate and sports events assignments.