Gregory Polek has spent his entire career in aviation journalism with AIN, starting as a proofreader and assistant to then-managing editor Mary Mahoney in 1995 after serving an internship with&nbsp;New Jersey Monthly&nbsp;magazine and completing his B.A. degree in English/Writing at New Jersey’s William Paterson College. By 1997 Polek accepted a position as an associate editor, covering the regional airline beat for&nbsp;Aviation International News&nbsp;in place of retiring industry veteran Don Anderson. The assignment took Polek across North America and Europe to profile regional airlines varying in size and mission from the likes of floatplane operators Kenmore Air and Chalk’s Ocean Airways to regional jet operators such as SkyWest and American Eagle. Today, in his dual role as Air Transport Editor and International Airshow Editor, Polek writes, edits, and manages AIN’s commercial aviation content while overseeing each of the company’s daily international air show publications in Paris, Farnborough, Singapore, and Dubai. Most recently Polek has assumed oversight of daily coverage of the Helicopter Association International’s annual Heli-Expo convention.

Senior Editor

Gregory Polek

The carriers that belong to the European Regions Airline Association (ERA) reported passenger growth of 9.1 percent for last year–well ahead of the 3.4-percent growth recorded in 2001. Revenue passenger kilometers grew at a rate of 9.3 percent versus 4.5 percent a year earlier. However, a greater than normal increase in the last quarter of last year due to the severe slump following 9/11 accounted for much of the gain.
European regional airlines reported a combined annual load factor of 59.3 percent for last year, peaking at 64.9 percent in September–the highest figure on record since ERA began reporting. Aircraft seating capacity also continued to grow, as carriers reported an average of 69 seats for scheduled operations, an increase of six seats. The growth of turbofan aircraft within the ERA fleet undoubtedly contributed to the increase. Turbofans now represent 53 percent of the ERA passenger fleet.

ERA Carriers Show Strong Growth Last Year

The carriers that belong to the European Regions Airline Association (ERA) reported passenger growth of 9.1 percent for last year–well ahead of the 3.4-per

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