Intended to compete directly with 30-seat aircraft like the Embraer Brasilia, Dornier 328 and Saab 340, the new design eventually accommodated 29 passengers in a two-by-one arrangement like the Jetstream 31.

Eastern Airways of the UK is the biggest operator of Jetstream 41s in the world, with 14 in the fleet.

[2] In January 1996, the J41 became part of the Aero International (Regional) (AI(R)), a marketing consortium consisting of ATR, Aérospatiale (of France), Alenia (of Italy), and British Aerospace.

Sales initially were fairly strong, but in May 1997 BAe announced that it was terminating J41 production,[3] with 100 aircraft delivered.

Operated by Corporate Flight Management The prototype Jetstream 41 G-JMAC is preserved by the Speke Aerodrome Heritage Group (SAHG) on the former airside apron behind the Crowne Plaza Liverpool John Lennon Airport Hotel, which was the original terminal building of Liverpool Speke Airport.