Lyddair, a subsidiary of Atlantic Bridge Aviation (ABA) is changing its aircraft focus to the BE200 and PA-31-350 to reflect the growing importance of air taxi operations. But it has gone to great lengths to find a good home, including an 8,000 nm journey, for its three phased-out Trislanders.

Director Robin Gordon explains: "For the last 12 years Lyddair has operated Trislanders from its home base at Lydd Airport. But, as part of a wider strategy, a decision was made to standardise on BE200 and PA-31-350 equipment in late 2008.

"While the Trislander was ideally suited to our Le Touquet scheduled service, Lyddair now has a wider range of operation. When we originally acquired the airport at Lydd, it was seen as essential to offer the general public some level of scheduled service destination, hence the launch of Lyddair.

"Now that the role of Lydd is firmly set as a developing regional airport the demand is for more air taxi style service, particularly with the fast London trains starting in December. The PA-31/BE200 combination allows us to provide economical solutions to most European destinations and our ability to get in and out of Lydd 24-7 is a great help."

But Gordon says the Trislanders have a long and highly valued role in short haul service worldwide. "Finding the right home for the aircraft is something we take personally; the new owners will need support to maximise the value that these unique workhorses can bring and ABA is committed to assisting in this."

ABA has been involved in a number of air carrier start-up situations and has a strong team of experienced air carrier and flight crew oriented staff. "The Trislander sale came just as we took the type out of operation," says Capt. Jonathan Gordon who delivered the aircraft. "We operated a Le Touquet service on the Sunday and left for the Far East on the Thursday, a ten hop 8,000 nm journey even with long range ferry systems installed."

Greys of London, a chauffeur company whose focus is mainly on the private aviation industry, is developing a partnership with ABA to provide chauffeur driven cars for a new fractional ownership scheme.

Lyddair originally had three Trislanders but sold one three years back. The last two were operated until April this year but have both now gone to the new Far East operator.