ABAIRLINES is planning to move away from offering scheduled routes in favour of providing back-up services to other carriers.
The move follows strong competition from low-cost carriers and major European airlines, which has led AB to abandon its strategy of offering a wide-reaching European network (Travel Weekly February 10).
Chairman Brian Beal and his team, including commercial director Robert Hardless, are looking to lease aircraft and crew to rival carriers.
This policy will start in the summer, with the addition of up to two more Boeing 737-300s into its fleet.
It already has two, of which one is leased out to partner Debonair.
Hardless said he expects additional leased B737s to come into the fleet until a firm order for six more efficient B737-700s starts to arrive in two years. The Boeings will replace AB’s two BAC1-11s.
He said: “ABAirlines has not got the critical mass to manage a scheduled network, so we must look at the market and be flexible.
“Boeing 737s are available, are in demand, and our UK registration is well-respected.”
Hardless said the aim was to provide aircraft year-round to any worldwide airline which needs them – whether it was from British Airways or a local carrier in Australia.
He said these airlines would turn to AB to solve short-term capacity shortages, and smaller carriers could experiment with AB’s aircraft before making firm commitments for their own orders.
The policy is similar to one which Dutch carrier Transavia has adopted successfully, added Hardless.
Meanwhile, he dismissed industry claims that ABmay be bought by a rival.
He said the investigation by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission into the purchase of Cityflyer by BA and a court case involving the legality of slot trading meant any buy-out would be at least a yearaway.