The Jetstream 31 first flew on 28 March 1980, several hundred 31s were built during the 1980s. In 1985, an engine upgrade was planned, which flew in 1988 as the Jetstream Super 31, also known as the Jetstream 32. Production continued until 1993, by which time 386 31/32s had been produced.
Four Jetstream 31s were ordered for the Royal Navy in 1985 as radar observer trainers, the Jetstream T.3, but were later used for VIP transport.
In December 2008, a total of 128 BAe Jetstream 31 and 32 aircraft remained in airline service.
Major operators include: Pascan Aviation (8) Direktflyg (7), Sun Air of Scandinavia (3), Jet Air (4), Blue Islands (5), Air National of New Zealand (5) and AIS Airlines (2) . Some 40 other airlines
operate smaller numbers of the types.