BAe Systems Regional Aircraft has recently sold and delivered a Jetstream 32 to Rompetrol Logistics SA of Bucharest, Romania for its newly created flight division.

The aircraft was re-configured from a 19-seat airliner layout into a 12-seat corporate interior by

Avione Craiova of Romania and was completed post-delivery. It is now being used as an executive shuttle aircraft for Rompetrol Logistics’ executives and for local charter services.

It will be serving routes such as Vienna, Geneva, Kisinew, Sofia, Belgrade, Istanbul and Ankara.

EBAN asked vice chairman of Rompetrol Philip Stephenson why the company chose the Jetstream 32. “A combination of size, speed, range and the hourly operating costs made it the perfect solution for our corporate business needs,” he said. “It was also an attractive option in the small but growing vip charter market in southeastern Europe.”

This is the first aircraft in Rompetrol’s flight division. Director of commercial contracts at BAe Systems Regional Aircraft, Gary O’Donnell, commented about its decision to sell the aircraft to Rompetrol Logistics: “Our market studies showed opportunities for the Jetstream in Eastern Europe both in a corporate role and also for scheduled passenger applications,” he explained. “We are very active in the area and identified Rompetrol as a potential customer.”

The future of Rompetrol’s flight division depends on market growth and development. If this follows the pattern that Rompetrol expects, the company says it would consider purchasing additional aircraft. “Possibly longer-range jet aircraft, which are suitable for different markets compared to the Jetstream 32,” Stephenson said.

“It has room for 12 passengers,”

he continued, “two sets of fully articulating business class club seats and two forward divans. We also fly

it with a flight attendant so, practically speaking it can take 11 passengers,” he added.

“The corporate charter market in that area and Eastern Europe generally, is at an early stage of development,” O’Donnell continued, “so there are opportunities for growth. At this stage probably the size of aircraft represented by the Jetstream is the best size for this newly developing market. In addition, the Jetstream has a competitive acquisition cost for a low-time aircraft that has genuine stand-up headroom and a lot of passenger amenity.”

According to Rompetrol’s Philip Stephenson, the aircraft has been very popular so far. “Besides flying

for Rompetrol group of companies, it has been chartered by Romanian government officials, prominent

local businessmen and multinational firms,” he said, “and once even by a group of football fans off to

see a match.”

Rompetrol expects to fly around 800 hours per year with the aircraft, undertaking operations mainly in central and south eastern Europe.

EBAN asked O’Donnell about the possibility of supplying Rompetrol with any further aircraft. “Rompetrol has indicated to us their intention to acquire further Jetstreams in the future and we look forward to a continuing dialogue with them to help satisfy these aspirations,” he said.

Stephenson maintains that company growth depends on market growth. “We have to be convinced that any aircraft can be operated as a profitable business,” he explained.

“I would say the Romanian charter market is a small but growing market,” he added.

“We are trying to compete on quality, not price. I think there are only a handful of companies doing this and I believe our aeroplane has the best ‘value for money proposition in the country and possibly the region.”

It seems that the Romanian economy is currently quite buoyant. “It is doing better now, with almost five per cent GDP growth in 2003,” Stephenson concluded.