A £25 million deal looks set to see ten new 'Islander' aircraft built at Bembridge Airport on the Isle of Wight.

Britten-Norman is to produce the fleet for Australian air charter operator, Torres Strait Air.

The planes will be among the first to be produced from the UK manufacturer’s new production line in Bembridge.

Britten-Norman announced it was moving its entire production line to Bembridge, in May 2023.

Torres Strait Air’s current fleet of 'Islander' aircraft are used for vital sub-regional air transport services across Torres Strait and Cape York Peninsula.

The new planes will feature full IFR glass cockpit technology, all window seating, enlarged baggage access as standard, as well as a higher All Up Mass than earlier variants.

The Austrailian firm has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Britten-Norman, as part of a 5-year fleet renewal programme.