Lithuanian Airlines (LAL) is leasing two used Saab 340B turboprops to develop regional routes from Lithuania's capital Vilnius.
The first of the two used aircraft, formerly operated by now-defunct Spanish regional Prima Air, came into service in mid-January. The second will follow in April.
LAL will initially operate the aircraft on routes to Berlin, Kiev and Warsaw, and plans to add new routes after the second aircraft comes into service.
According to LAL director-general Stasys Dailydka, the airline wants to develop markets closer to home "-to develop Vilnius as a hub and to give a better service to the increased business activity in our region". The airline carried some 220,000 passengers in 1996, and operates to destinations in Western Europe, as well as to Cyprus, Dubai and Moscow, with a fleet of Boeing 737s, Tupolev Tu-134s,Yakovlev Yak-42s and Antonov An-24s.
The Saab 340 is also in service with Air Baltic in Latvia, which flies the aircraft to five destinations from Riga.
Source: Flight International
