FOR the first time ever jet aircraft are to be used on services linking Southampton International Airport with the Channel Island of Jersey.

This is another significant milestone in the development of services out of the city's airport underlining its importance to the region's economy.

British Airways franchise partners, British Regional Airlines, the major operator at Southampton International yesterday announced it plans to introduce their highly successful Embraer 145 regional jet on the busy service, which will eventually also see the addition of a British Aerospace 146.

The announcement came as BRAL took over the former KLM uk route between Southampton and Jersey, which not only caters for the long established leisure market but provides a vital link to the Channel Island's offshore finance industry.

BRAL also recently announced it is to operate Southampton International's first link with Germany with a week-daily service to Frankfurt from January next year and at the same time strengthen its route between the city and Dublin by tripling its flights Monday to Friday.

"Ultimately, we plan to introduce the 145 to the Jersey route on the morning and evening departures and a British Aerospace 146 on the midday service,'' said BRAL's chief executive, Terry Liddiard.

" The airline aims to add 15 per cent more seats on the route in its first year, 23 per cent more in 2001 and to make Southampton Airport the real gateway to the Channel Islands.

"We are delighted to be increasing our activity at Southampton, which has become an important base for us and our growing Embraer 145 regional jet fleet.

"It is also a pleasure to work with an airport that really understands its airlines.

"Our decision to expand our route network at Southampton is a positive response to the business community to strengthen links between the South Coast and other key regional centres.

"These new routes and frequency improvement will enable us to build on the success of our existing operation at Southampton and deliver a schedule and choice of destinations that the business traveller wants.''

BRAL's expansion of its route network and the upgrading of its services from Southampton International is seen as an important step forward in the growth of the airport by it's managing director, Colin Hobbs.

"Southampton International is now recognised as playing a fundamental role within the prosperous economic region of central southern England,'' said Mr Hobbs.

"More than two million people live within one hour of Southampton International and more and more of them are choosing the easy option of their local airport.''

Yesterday also saw another Southampton Airport airline, Suckling Airways make its first flight under a new name and livery, Scot Airways on its shuttle service between the airport and Amsterdam.

Its Dornier 328 turboprop aircraft has been repainted to feature a tartan insignia with new red seats reflecting the airline's expansion of flights between London and Scotland and its new Scottish investors.

Meanwhile, earlier this month Jersey European Airways introduced the Dash 8 Q300 aircraft on the Southampton to Guernsey route and Brymon Airways, another British Airways' franchisee, is doubling it capacity on its Newcastle and Aberdeen service to twice daily in response to increased demand.

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.