Bristow Helicopters Ltd has acquired a 60 per cent interest in Aberdeen, UK-based Eastern Airways International. Eastern Airways will continue to operate independently from Bristow, and under its own brand led by the current management team.

Euro 2012 should be good news for charter operators across the board, as a greatly increased requirement for flights to the venues in Poland and Ukraine will mean even those not engaged with carrying football fans will be busy ensuring day-to-day charter needs are met.

Eastern Airways has taken delivery of an Embraer 135 and signed a lease agreement for a second which will increase its fleet of aircraft to 30.