Avanti Air has upgraded its fleet with the addition of two ATR42-500s. The company's Markus Baumann says: "We have operated the ATR42 and ATR72 since 2002, so it was a logical step to introduce newer ATRs."

The new aircraft will serve existing customers for charter commissions and for ACMI leasing but Baumann says he also expects them to extend the business and attract new clients.

However Baumann confirms there are no current plans to add further aircraft to the fleet.

"We intend to stabilise our business and find new customers and markets," he explains. "If we grow, it will be as we have in the past: very conservatively and slowly with no big risks taken."

Baumann points out: "The company has not yet got back to the business levels it achieved before the global economic crisis. It will take more time and we will obviously be happy to return to the approximately 1,500 to 2,000 hours annually per aircraft which we enjoyed before the downturn.

"However, we expect that, as oil prices inevitably rise again, there will be increasing demand for turboprops because of factors such as their good low load factor and their capability to service demand for flights to and from small, remote areas."

Avanti Air was founded in 1994 by Baumann and Stefan Kissinger, both pilots, as an aircraft management company.

"In the mid-90s we introduced the first Beechcraft 1900 for charter work, which was extended to three aircraft before the first ATR42 was purchased in 2002," says Baumann.

"The 1900 has been phased out, the last management aircraft left the fleet years ago and we only operate ATRs but the company has always been profitable and it employs around 80 staff."

Baumann says the company owns its aircraft and adds: "We are a privately owned company that has a very stable staff. However, we do recruit direct and with agencies. We are looking for attendants and maybe some additional pilots."