Gulfstream Int’l To Upgrade to Saabs

Gulfstream International Airlines has reached an agreement with Saab Aircraft Leasing to buy six 34-seat Saab 340Bplus turboprops, the Fort Lauderdale-based airline announced in late October. It plans to deploy all the airplanes on its Florida/Bahamas routes, where they will replace 19-seat Beech 1900Ds.

Gulfstream took delivery of the first airplane last month and plans to integrate the Saab 340s into its fleet over a nine-month period. Each aircraft will stand subject to a period of inspection and certification under U.S. and Bahamian aviation regulations, after which Gulfstream plans to announce entry-into-service dates.

Gulfstream now flies 21 Beech 1900s to and from 29 points in Florida, the Bahamas, Montana, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Chicago-based Victory Park Capital re-launched Gulfstream this past May following the acquisition of select assets from the former Gulfstream International Airlines, which filed for bankruptcy in November 2010. It now flies under code-share contracts with Continental, United and Copa Airlines.