Britten-Norman, the UK aircraft manufacturer, has announced a buyer for the newest version of its Islander turboprop aircraft. Six new BN2T-4S Islander aircraft will go to India's domestic commuter airline Spirit Air. The two parties announced they had signed a Letter of Intent for the purchase of six aircraft directly from the factory once completed.

The BN2T-4S is the largest variant of the Islander. It features an extended cabin to allow for one additional row of seats compared with the standard piston Islander. The aircraft is powered by twin Rolls-Royce (Allison) Model 250 turboprop engines, bringing a 22% increase in disposable payload without sacrificing the type's famous short takeoff and landing capabilities.

The cockpit will be equipped with the latest Garmin avionics and are entirely IFR capable, including FIKI. The aircraft's interior and seating configuration will be fully customized to meet Spirit Air's needs as a scheduled commuter airline. The type received its type certification with the FAA and is currently in the process of becoming certified in India.

Mark Shipp, Technical Director and Head of Design at Britten-Norman, highlighted how well the new aircraft is suited for this role: “The Islander, both piston and turboprop, has a long-established history of operating successfully across India and the surrounding region. Its durability makes it highly suitable for operating into remote, semi-prepared locations and this sets the Islander apart within this class of aviation.

Spirit Air will initially take delivery of 4 factory-refurbished BN2T-4S Islanders from the manufacturer to allow the carrier to begin service while the new fleet is being completed at Britten-Norman's newly established UK facility. The regional airline announced it will use its incoming fleet of BN2T-4S Islander aircraft to operate scheduled passenger services across India. The key focus will be providing vital sub-regional connectivity between remote grass airstrips and municipal landing strips with the country's primary airports to facilitate domestic connections and onward travel.