St Barth Executive is to be the launch customer for Tecnam's twin-engine, 11 seat P2012 STOL.

Vincent Beauvarlet, president, says: "We are thrilled to begin a new era for St Barth Executive with new scheduled services between Guadeloupe and St Barth. We have been waiting for more than 10 years for a type of aircraft capable of flying between our islands that have very specific runways - short and very technical, requiring appropriate aircraft and pilot qualifications. No business plan was realistic until the launch of the P 2012 STOL for our islands and the passenger, cargo and medevac activities we need to develop."

The scheduled service from Guadeloupe to St Barth will be the first to be operated under the Air Inter Iles brand by St Barth Executive, with three flights per day and up to six flights per day during the high season. This 50 minute flight will allow tourists and locals to travel between the islands for just a day. The new route has been eagerly awaited as it will connect islands that were previously only accessible by boat.

The short take off and landing variant of the P2012 Traveller is the perfect platform for a unique environment such as the West Indies. Tecnam's innovative and modern design of an aircraft built with commuter passengers in mind will allow St Barth Executive to bring the comfort and luxury of modern amenities and ergonomic design to its service in the Caribbean, providing a high level of service to their communities.

Comfortably seating nine passengers with one or two crew, the P2012 STOL is a new generation, turbocharged, twin-engine, high wing, fixed wing aircraft. Its introduction to the fleet will offer premium interiors, in-seat power, superior legroom and under-seat stowage.

Tecnam managing director Giovanni Pascale says: "We are delighted that St Barth Executive has chosen the P2012 STOL, it is the right aircraft for its operations. We are proud to see our aircraft landing at this iconic airport."