Republic of Ireland-based ECT Aviation has taken delivery of its first Britten-Norman BN2T-4S Islander aircraft, marking its expansion into cargo operations linking Europe and North Africa. The aircraft will fly high-frequency freight routes from Lyon Saint Exupéry to destinations in the region.

Flights will be operated in partnership with French aviation services provider Avico and will focus on urgent and high-value cargo including pharmaceuticals, artwork, precious metals and documents. Operations will be carried out under a German AOC via ProAir.

Headquartered at Lyon Bron and registered in Dublin, ECT currently operates a Pilatus PC-12 NGX for business and medevac missions. Scheduled cargo flights are due to begin by late 2025, once the aircraft is delivered this autumn.

A letter of intent has been signed for a second BN2T-4S Islander, set for delivery in early 2026, as part of ECT’s goal to build a flexible regional cargo fleet.

The BN2T-4S is the largest Islander variant, offering more cabin space, a higher MTOW and extended endurance. ECT’s aircraft will be equipped with Garmin G600 TXi avionics for operational efficiency and compliance.

Fabrice Jounot, managing director at ECT Aviation, says: “We've seen consistent demand from clients needing fast, flexible logistics into regions that are underserved by traditional carriers. The BN2T-4S offers the right combination of rugged performance and modern avionics to deliver reliable cargo operations, even into short or remote runways. It's a highly capable platform that supports our strategy to grow specialised air freight between Europe and North Africa.”