DTN News: Indonesian Market Proves Attractive For BAE Systems Regional Jets

Defense News: DTN News: Indonesian Market Proves Attractive For BAE Systems Regional Jets
Source: DTN News / BAE Systems
(NSI News Source Info) KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - April 21, 2010: BAE Systems announced at the Defence Services Asia Exhibition and Conference in Kuala Lumpur (19-22 April) that it continues to enjoy success in the Indonesian domestic market with its BAe 146/Avro RJ family of regional jetliners.
Over the past year BAE Systems has placed four of these aircraft into Indonesia and is underscoring the importance it attaches to this market by planning to hold its first Asian Operators' Conference in the country during May.
The latest aircraft to be sold into Indonesia was delivered in November 2009 to PT Aviastar Mandiri, a certified air charter operator, which bought a BAe 146-200 which is being operated on behalf of Transnusa Air Services in a 98 seat all-economy layout. It is based at Denpasar Airport in Bali and operates to destinations in East Nusa Tenggara.
Aviastar Mandiri bought another BAe 146-200 in June, while PT Nusantara Air Charter also bought a Series 200 passenger airliner from BAE Systems and a Series 200QT (Quiet Trader) freighter in a deal brokered by BAE Systems last summer.
Mr Raj Singh, Director Sales and Leasing (Asia) for BAE Systems Regional Aircraft said: "Indonesia is a very receptive market for us at the moment and we are actively engaged in further discussions with a number of operators. The geography of the country means that regional air transport can often be the only reliable means of getting passengers and goods from one area to another. The BAe 146/Avro RJ family has the airfield performance, economics and price tag to make it a strong contender for these roles."
There are three variants of the aircraft operating with six carriers in Indonesia - a total of nine aircraft so far.
Scheduled and charter passenger operations are carried out by Aviastar Mandiri with two BAe 146-200s, by PT Manunggal Air with two BAe 146-100s, by PT Nusantara Air Charter with its Series 200 and by PT Air Maleo with a single BAe 146-100.
Freighter operations are carried out by the BAe 146-200QT operated by PT Nusantara Air Charter.
Two Avro Business Jet variants are operated by PT Pelita Air Service (one RJ85) and by PT Airfast Indonesia who fly a corporately-configured BAe 146-100 on behalf of Metro TV, Indonesia's first 24-hour news station.
Elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific air transport market BAE Systems products are also proving popular. The ATP turboprop freighter is in service with PT Deraya Air of Indonesia, while the Jetstream 41 turboprop transport flies in its 29-seat airliner role with Agni Air and Yeti Airlines of Nepal, and as a corporate transport with the Royal Thai Army and Royal Star Aviation of the Philippines. The Hong Kong Government Flying Service also operates two special mission Jetstream 41s.
The smaller 18/19 seat Jetstream 31/32 also features in operations with Royal Star Aviation and the Thai Directorate of Civil Aviation, while the older BAe 748 transport aircraft remains in service with commercial operators in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, as well as with air arms in Nepal, South Korea and Thailand.
About BAE Systems
BAE Systems is a global defence, security and aerospace company with approximately 107,000 employees worldwide. The Company delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. In 2009 BAE Systems reported sales of £22.4 billion (US$ 36.2 billion).