US Part 135 cargo operator Ameriflight and Miami, Florida-based turboprop aircraft lessor Jetstream Aviation Capital have partnered on the lease and delivery of 15 Saab 340B(F) cargo aircraft. The addition of these aircraft to its fleet represents another step forward in a multifaceted corporate strategy shift for Ameriflight.

“We are proud to partner with Jetstream on the venture of operating the Saab 340B at Ameriflight. This aircraft offers the market the best combination of cubic capacity and cost, which will be best suited for our customers and their increasing needs for years to come,” says Ameriflight chief executive officer Paul Chase. “Expanding our fleet and ultimately our business is a great opportunity not only for our customers but for our hardworking employees on the front line as well.”

The first aircraft are intended to join the Ameriflight operation in the fourth quarter of this year. This latest fleet type will be used to support unprecedented demand for the company's services, including Ameriflight's expedited supply chain services, dedicated operations and regional feeder service for the world's largest overnight express carriers.

After careful analysis of many platforms and multiple aircraft, the company landed on the Saab 340B as an excellent fit for the operation, noting the aircraft's exceptional safety record and compelling operating economics.

“We are pleased that Ameriflight, one of our longest-standing customers, has selected the Saab 340B freighter to be provided by Jetstream,” says Jetstream chief executive officer Stuart Klaskin. “The 340B's combination of operational capability, economic efficiency and ongoing support from our partners at Saab for the airframe and General Electric for the engine continue to make this the aircraft of choice for express and integrator-support cargo operators worldwide. It is our privilege to welcome Ameriflight to the Saab 340 community.”