JOTA Aviation (London Southend) says it is considering introducing an unspecified number of BAe146(QT) ('Quiet Trader') freighters into its fleet either through outright acquisitions or leases.
In a statement, the UK-based ACMI/charter operator said addition of the type was in response to increased demand for freight-flying from its client base. JOTA currently operates a single dedicated freighter, Beech (twin turboprop) King Air E90 G-JOTA (cn LJ-327).
"G-JOTA is a dedicated cargo aircraft with a large cargo door, and it is upon this heritage that JOTA believes the BAe146QT freight aircraft will be a natural progression and development," it said.
Aside from several other pax-configured King Airs, JOTA also operates one ARJ-85 and one BAe 146-200. Given strong demand in the charter market for the type, JOTA says it will also look at adding additional ARJs to its fleet in the future as well.
“We are in a niche market with this versatile and popular aircraft as there are very few 146/RJs available for ACMI charter in Europe now," JOTA Aviation CEO Andrew Green said.
According to the ch-aviation aircraft database, there are only thirty-eight ARJ-100s, three ARJ-70s, and twenty-one ARJ-85s active in Europe. Of the QTs, there are only three active BAe 146-200(QT)s in Europe - one with ASL Airlines Spain (Madrid Barajas) and two with the Royal Air Force (RFR, Brize Norton) - while of the BAe 146-300(QT)s, all seven on the continent are in service with ASL Airlines Spain.
JOTA will begin active recruitment for QT as well as ARJ type-rated crews in the near future.
Though it primarily operates throughout the United Kingdom as well as in Europe, JOTA recently applied to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) for a Foreign Air Carrier Permit (FACP) to allow it operate scheduled and charter flights ferrying persons, property and mail between the European Union and the United States.
