SkyWork Airlines (Bern) will conclude Saab 2000 wet-lease operations later this month after lessor Darwin Airline (Lugano) informed it that it did not have enough pilots to man the aircraft. Saab (Sweden) (TGT, Linköping Saab) twinprop - HB-IYD (cn 59) - is currently used on flights connecting Bern with Palma de Mallorca as well as London City via Basel/Mulhouse/Freiburg, CH.
SkyWork said in a statement that effective December 12, those operations would be taken over by one of its four Do328-100s for the rest of the winter season.
SkyWork says it had been talks with Darwin Airline over the acquisition of a pair of its Saab 2000s but had to change tact after the Etihad Airways (EY, Abu Dhabi International) equity partner was unable to give it a firm commitment. As such, SkyWork says it has turned to an alternative source and will acquire two of the twinprops in April and May of next year. Following their arrival, one Dornier will be phased out leaving SkyWork with a fleet of two Saab 2000s and three Do328s for next summer's operations.
The move is part of SkyWork's "Go50Plus" turnaround programme, which aims to equip the Swiss regional operator with aircraft that are better suited to its requirements.
