Adria Airways will add six fifty-seat Saab 2000 turboprop aircraft to its fleet this September, which were formerly operated by the now-defunct Darwin Airline (operating as Adria Airways Switzerland), following months of delays. As a result, the carrier’s fleet will grow to 21 aircraft, making it the largest in its 57-year history. The turboprops will be deployed on a select number of routes, most notably to some of the seven new destinations launched by the airline this summer, as well as points within the region. In a statement, Adria said, “By adding six additional aircraft, the Slovenian carrier equals the largest fleet by number of aircraft in the Balkans”.
Commenting on the addition of the six turboprops, the airline’s CEO, Holger Kowarsch, said, “I am extremely proud that we have achieved a very important milestone in the history of Adria Airways. The latest acquirement confirms our commitment to investing in the company’s development since our acquisition of the company. Our goal is to keep growing and strengthening, and we believe that we are able to further transform the company into a stable, strong and important carrier in the region, by developing it for a prosperous future”. Previously, Mr Kowarsch noted, “The market is showing a strong interest in Saab 2000s. Part of this fleet will operate in our network, while other aircraft will be available for charter and our ACMI business, which is growing in Europe”.
As of September, Adria will operate a fleet of 21 aircraft including three Airbus A319s, nine Bombardier CRJ900s and three CRJ700s, in addition to the six Saab 2000s. In a recent interview with EX-YU Aviation News, Mr Kowarsch noted that the Slovenian carrier will be adding at least another three aircraft to its fleet next year.