PINO MODOLA / GENOA
Avia Aviation places options on three P180 Avantis and fellow fractional operator AvantAir considers further aircraft
Piaggio Aero Industries has relocated its US-based subsidiary Piaggio America from Greenville, South Carolina to Jet Aviation's West Palm Beach, Florida facility. The transfer comes as the US company secures three options for the P180 Avanti twin pusher turboprop from Canadian fractional-ownership operator Avia Aviation. The Calgary-based company already operates three P180s. Fellow North American P180 fractional operator AvantAir is also believed to be considering further options. The New York-based company operates a fleet of seven P180s and has a further five on order.
Piaggio America was formed in 2000 to relaunch the P180 in the USA. There are now 40 Avantis operating in North America, supported by seven service centres. Piaggio says P180 production is sold out until early 2006, with 70% intended for US customers. In 2003, 12 aircraft were delivered, down from 14 the year before, and 18 should be handed over this year.
The decision to relocate the US base followed the the signing last year of a long-term tenancy deal with Jet Aviation to occupy hangar and office space at its facility. As part of the deal, Jet Aviation will outfit Avanti aircraft for Piaggio America, the support arm for the P180 on the continent.
Meanwhile, the seven-seat P180 has also been selected by UK-based start-up operator Primeflight for its twice-daily service between Belfast International in Northern Ireland and Brussels National.
The service, which will begin on 1 March, is targeted at business travellers. Primeflight says it plans to add more aircraft and routes, notably Zurich, Geneva and Frankfurt. Primeflight will also launch simultaneously an air ambulance and charter operation deploying a P180 owned by UK operator Euroskylink.
Source: Flight International
