The ATR 42-300 with registration EC-KAI and MSN 141 was originally delivered to Simmons Airlines in the USA as N431MQ in June 1989. It was the first ATR-42 delivered to an American customer. The ATR-42 is a twin-turboprop regional airliner produced by ATR, a joint venture between Airbus and Leonardo S.p.A. The aircraft is typically used for short-haul flights, and has a maximum range of 1,011 nautical miles (1,861 km) with a maximum cruising speed of 276 knots (511 km/h).
After being operated by Simmons Airlines, the aircraft was later transferred to Executive Airlines Puerto Rico as N141AE from April 1995 to February 1998 before being transferred to American Eagle until 2004. In 2004, the aircraft was converted from passenger into a cargo variant ATR 42-300F and operated solely by FedEx Express for freight. Over the years, it had different owners, including Air Contractors, FedEx Feeder, and Swiftair. In 2007, when Swiftair took over and the aircraft was finally registered as EC-KAI.
Avation PLC (LON:AVAP) is a commercial passenger aircraft leasing company owning a fleet of aircraft which it leases to airlines across the world. Avation’s future focus are new technology low CO2 emission aircraft.
