Astraeus to operate 737-500 for UK's Palmair

UK leasing company Astraeus has secured a Boeing 737-500 to provide damp-lease services from Bournemouth International Airport from 1 May.

Astraeus has signed a three-year deal with tour operator Bath Travel to provide flights for holiday airline Palmair from Bournemouth to a variety of Mediterranean destinations.

"Those in the industry will see this as a small but highly significant deal," says Astraeus director of leasing Shaun Monnery. "Such deals are both lucrative and hard-fought over. We sourced the 737-500 specifically for this role."

The 126-seat 737-500 was formerly with British Airways and has been leased through GE Commercial Aviation Services for the three-year contract. It brings Astraeus' total fleet to 10 aircraft, which also includes five 757-200s, two 737-700s and two 737-300s.

"Our fleet is largely committed on contract to a variety of airlines for the foreseeable future and our ad hoc aircraft has been kept extremely busy throughout 2008 and into 2009, deployed at short notice," adds Monnery. Astraeus is also evaluating Airbus A320-family aircraft.