Eastern Airways (T3, Humberside) founders, Bryan Huxford and Richard lake, have sold off 60% of their shareholding in the airline to Bristow Helicopters (BHL, Aberdeen Dyce). The pair will each retain a 20% shareholding in the airline, which will continue to operate independently from Bristow, and under its own brand led by the current management team. While the exact value of the transaction was not specified, it is believed to be in the region of USD25million. Formed in 1997, Eastern today operates a fleet of 30 aircraft on flights across the UK, Norway and France, including its core network of scheduled services to the North Sea offshore oil and gas industry. Eastern recently won a major new six-year USD45million contract with BP Exploration Operating Company Limited to provide air services between Aberdeen Dyce and Sumburgh in the Shetland Islands, initially using a Jetstream 41 before switching to a Saab 2000. The airline also provides daily charter services for oil and gas industry customers employed by the companies that make up the Integrated Aviation Consortium (IAC).