French operator Avialim is looking forward to mid-September when it can begin flying its recently-added King Air E90. The aircraft was acquired more than a month ago and is currently having new engines, landing gear and propellers installed.

Said company spokesman Jean-Philippe Blondeau: “We bought the aircraft because it was a good opportunity – the price was reasonable and it had the potential we required.”

The E90 can carry from six to eight passengers and Avialim charges 1,100 euros per flight hour for the privilege of flying in it.

Blondeau said: “The charter market has been pretty low key for the past three years. We are quite satisfied with our own performance but it’s still been difficult. Globally perhaps, things are improving but in our six to eight seat turboprop sector, it’s still quite slow.”

Avialim flies out of Limoges in central France, and also has a King Air C90 in its fleet.

“We’re in an area of France where there is no big economic potential,” he said. “We fly 550 hours a year, which isn’t bad for us, but we certainly don’t refuse any flights.”

Avialim has a hangar and offices at the airport and says it’s the only operator there.