US airline swells Saab order book

MESABA Airlines of the United States is to acquire up to 72 Saab 340 aircraft in one of the manufacturer's largest orders.

The agreement provides a firm order for 50 of the regional aircraft and options to purchase 22 more.

An option books a place in the production line and usually costs 5 per cent of the full purchase price.

The firm order includes 30 new 340Plus aircraft and 20 pre-owned 340As, with deliveries from this May to September 1998.

Mesaba operates as Northwest Airlink from 61 cities in the US and in Canada, carrying nearly 1.5 million passengers last year.

The order brings Saab Aircraft's 340 order book to 433, with more than 380 delivered to date.