Kendell Airlines Achieves 10-Year Milestone with GE CT7-Powered Saab 340 Aircraft

March 21, 1995 -- MELBOURNE, Victoria - Kendell Airlines and its founder, Don Kendell, were honored at ceremonies today commemorating the tenth anniversary of the launch of Kendell Airlines' fleet of CT7-powered Saab 340 aircraft.

Kendell Airlines was among the first regional operators to fly the GE-powered Saab 340, at a time when rapid, worldwide regional airline growth prompted the development of more advanced engines and aircraft.

Since entering revenue service in 1985, CT7 turboprops powering Kendell aircraft have logged approximately 80,000 engine flight hours. Each Kendell Airlines' twin-engine 340 averages 2,200 flight hours annually, equivalent to 4,400 engine flight hours each year.

Louis A. Bevilacqua, general manager of the Turboprop and Turboshaft Department of GE Aircraft Engines, said, "Don Kendell is recognized as an aviation pioneer in Australia by industry leaders and the aviation press throughout the world. He is acknowledged as a key contributor to the rapidly growing global regional airline network. His foresight in selecting the modern Saab 340 at program inception is an indication of his clear understanding of the needs of the market. GE Aircraft Engines is proud and honored to have shared with Kendell in this success story."

Kendell Airlines operates six Saab aircraft from hubs in Melbourne and Adelaide, serving 20 destinations in four states and the Northern Territory, in a network that extends west to Ceduna, north to Ayers Rock, south to Devonport, and east to Merimbula. Kendell offers a range of packaged holidays, featuring regional Victoria, outback tours, wilderness holidays in Tasmania, The New South Wales Sapphire coast, South Australia's Eyre Peninsula, and snow skiing in the Australian Alps. In addition to the 34-passenger Saab 340s, Kendell Airlines operates 19-passenger Metro and 16-passenger Metroliner aircraft.

"Kendell Airlines is supported by a maintenance base at Wagga Wagga, which is staffed by 40 specialist service engineers, skilled in complex maintenance tasks," said Bevilacqua. "Like many CT7 operators, Kendell Airlines has elected to use GE's Engine Care Maintenance Program, or ECMP, to manage maintenance costs on their CT7 engines. The combined strength of Kendell's service organization and GE's product support has helped the airlines' Saab 340 fleet to achieve an excellent operational service record."