IATA J31ICAO JS31

British Aerospace Jetstream 31

British Aerospace

TravelerPulse profile

British twin-turboprop commuter airliner for regional routes.

First flight

1982

Category

Regional turboprop

Seating

Range

1,260 km

Engines

Two Garrett (AlliedSignal) TPE331-10 turboprops

Status

In service

The British Aerospace Jetstream 31 is a twin-turboprop commuter aircraft developed from the original Handley Page Jetstream design of the late 1960s. BAe relaunched and substantially redesigned the type in the early 1980s, introducing more powerful Garrett TPE331 engines and modernised avionics, with production taking place at Prestwick, Scotland. The Jetstream 31 became popular with regional and commuter airlines worldwide throughout the 1980s and 1990s, offering pressurised cabin comfort in a compact, economical package. Its 19-seat capacity made it well suited to thin regional routes. Production ended in the mid-1990s after more than 380 aircraft were built. An improved variant, the Jetstream 32, featured enhanced engines, and the larger Jetstream 41 was also developed as a follow-on product. Many Jetstream 31s remain in service today with small regional operators and charter companies.

Notable operators

Major operators have included British Airways Express, Mesa Airlines, Trans States Airlines, and numerous small regional carriers across Europe, North America, and Australia.

Notable facts

›Derived from the original Handley Page Jetstream design first flown in 1967.
›Over 380 Jetstream 31 and 32 aircraft were produced at Prestwick, Scotland.
›The Jetstream 32 variant introduced uprated TPE331-12 engines for improved performance.
›Pressurised cabin set it apart from many competitors in the 19-seat commuter segment.
›Production ceased in the mid-1990s when BAe focused on the larger Jetstream 41.