Inflite Engineering Services buys Avro Business Jet from BAE Systems

Monday, Nov 16, 2009

BAE Systems announced today at the Dubai Air Show that it has secured another customer for its Avro Business Jet, with the sale of an aircraft to Inflite Engineering Services of the UK. The aircraft is being delivered immediately.

Inflite has been an integral part of the recent success of the Avro Business Jet (ABJ) and has converted most of the aircraft sold by BAE Systems over the past two years into high-specification executive interiors for the new owners.

Seeing the strong demand for the ABJ and the exceptional value for money represented by the aircraft, Inflite has elected to purchase its own aircraft – a BAe 146-100 - and speculatively convert it for onward sale.

Managing Director of Inflite Engineering Services Steve Buckingham said today:
“We have a really positive experience of the Avro Business Jet and the strong market reaction to it, and this has convinced us there is an excellent business opportunity to buy our own aircraft, convert it and offer it for sale. If this concept works then we would not rule out further speculative acquisitions.”

Stewart Cordner, Vice President Avro Business Jets for BAE Systems added:
“This sale to Inflite is a further demonstration of the appeal of the Avro Business Jet, in this case as a business investment. Inflite has seen for itself the value proposition and increase in asset value offered by the combination of a pre-owned BAe 146/Avro RJ combined with a top class interior.”

This sale to Inflite comes less than two weeks after BAE Systems announced the sale of an ABJ to the Gill Group of the UK and means that there are now 27 ABJs delivered or contracted. The aircraft has been acquired by governments, individuals, corporate shuttle operators and executive charter companies.

About BAE Systems
BAE Systems is the premier global defence, security and aerospace company delivering 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. With approximately 105,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded £18.5 billion (US $34.4 billion) in 2008.

Source: BAE Systems