Tag Archives: ATR 72-212A

Airlines PNG rebrands as PNG Air with the first ATR 72-600

Airlines PNG (Port Moresby) is rebranding as PNG Air with the delivery of the first new ATR 72-600. The company is replacing its older de Havilland Canada DHC-8-100 Dash 8 fleet with the new ATRs and has taken the opportunity to change its image.

According to the airline’s Chairman Murray Woo, “The Company’s capital was restructured so that the Company is now unambiguously PNG owned and a permanent part of the country’s infrastructure and economy. The decision was made to re-fleet with the ATR 72-600, meaning the airline will be the only carrier in the country servicing all major ports in the domestic market with new, efficient, highly reliable, state of the art aircraft. That will allow the airline for the first time to offer what is clearly the premium product on domestic routes.

We expect to have 3 brand new ATRs operating by February 2016 and 7 by December 2017. After that the plan is to replace all our Dash 8s and become a 100% ATR operator by 2020. The ATR is the only aircraft currently in production that can fly to all major ports in PNG. ATR have invested heavily to make their product by far the most widely chosen regional turboprop aircraft around the world.”

The company also commented on the decision to rebrand:

“The Board has also taken the decision to rebrand the airline, to reinvigorate its image. Re-fleeting gives the Company this opportunity, as a fleet of new, larger and more comfortable aircraft will improve public perception of the airline’s safety and service. Rebranding will reinforce that the airline is offering something new and genuinely improved. A new appearance will also emphasise improvements in the airline’s service culture.”

Copyright Photo: Eurospot. The pictured ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-600) F-WWEQ (msn 1287) will become P2-ATR on delivery. It displays the new brand.

Route Map:

Binter Canarias takes delivery of its first ATR 72-600

Binter Canarias (Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain) took delivery on September 16 in Toulouse of the first of 12 70-seat ATR 72-600s ordered through two different contracts signed in 2014 and earlier this year. With the introduction of these new ATR 72-600s series’ aircraft the airline will progressively upgrade its current fleet, consisting of 16 ATR 72-500s. Binter, which is a long-standing ATR operator, has progressively developed its regional network over the Canary Islands with ATR aircraft since 1989.

Photo: ATR. ATR 72-212A (marketed as the ATR 72-600) F-WWEG (msn 1278) became EC-MIF on delivery.

Binter Canarias aircraft slide show:

Binter destinations:

Flybe welcomes the first ATR 72-600 to be operated for SAS in Sweden

Flybe (Exeter) is introducing an ATR 72-600 series aircraft into its fleet. The pictured G-FEXB (msn 1277) named “Eindride Viking” has been delivered to Flybe from the leasing company Avation. The ATR 72 will operate from Sweden in the livery of Flybe’s new partner in Northern Europe, Scandinavian Airlines-SAS (Stockholm).

During 2015 and 2016 Flybe will incorporate into the SAS network five new 70-seat ATR 72-600s leased from Avation. The aircraft will be based at Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport from where they will serve selected SAS domestic and regional destinations. The operation of these aircraft is a result of the recently announced six-year white label partnership recently established between Flybe and SAS, Scandinavia’s largest carrier.

The new type is expected to enter service on October 25 from Stockholm (Arlanda) to Kalmar, Ronneby, Sundsvall-Härnösand, Turku and Visby according to ch-aviation.

Photo: ATR.

Air Bagan suspends operations, vows to return in October

Air Bagan (Yangon) suspended all operations on August 16. The company is vowing to reorganize and return in October with additional aircraft. The company has been struggling since an ATR 72-500 with 49 passengers skidded off the runway on landing at Yangon on July 24 in a heavy rainstorm. The airline was down to one operational ATR 72 and could not maintain its schedules.

Air Bagan started operations on November 15, 2004.

Read more from the Myanmar Times: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Richard Vandervord/AirlinersGallery.com. ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-500) XY-AIK (msn 592) taxies at the Yangon base.

Air Bagan aircraft slide show:

Route Map (click on the map for the full size view):

Myanmar National Airlines takes delivery of its first ATR 72-600

Myanmar National Airlines (formerly Myanma Airways) (Yangon) took delivery of its first ATR 72-600 (ATR 72-212A XY-AJY, msn 1267) on August 3.

The airline, which currently operates a fleet of three ATR 72-500s, two ATR 72-200s and one ATR 42-300, had booked an order for six ATR 72-600s in 2014, along with options for six additional aircraft, in a deal valued at $296 million (USD).

With these new ATR 72-600s, the last of which is scheduled for delivery in 2017, the airline is upgrading its regional aircraft fleet with the most modern and technologically-advanced aircraft. The arrival of these new aircraft will provide the additional seat capacity and further enhanced service required to meet the booming demand for tourism and business travel across the country.

Myanmar National Airlines is currently consolidating an ambitious strategy to expand its global presence in the country. In addition to the introduction of the newest ATR-600s, the airline is also setting up a modern MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) center in Yangon, with support from ATR. Today, there are 30 ATRs in operation across the country, flying with eight different airline liveries.

Myanmar National Airways is the national flag carrier of Myanmar. Founded in 1949 as Union of Burma Airways, the company was then renamed Myanma Airways and will now be operating under the name of Myanmar National Airlines. Today, Myanmar National Airlines operates scheduled services to all major domestic destinations and is in the midst of a major restructuring plan aimed at establishing Myanmar National Airlines as a major carrier in the ASEAN region and beyond. The airline network will rapidly expand outside Myanmar with the introduction of ten Boeing 737-800 and 737-Max 8 aircraft in the near term, and with the renewal of its regional fleet with the brand-new ATR 72-600.

Photo: ATR.

Air New Zealand orders one more ATR 72-600

Air New Zealand (Auckland) today received its most recent ATR 72-600.

On the occasion of the delivery ceremony, held today at the Paris Air Show, the airline announced as well the purchase of an additional ATR 72-600 aircraft. Since 2011, Air New Zealand has purchased a total of 14 ATR 72-600s. Deliveries of the ATR 72-600 aircraft will continue until 2017. Once delivered, Air New Zealand will have 25 ATR aircraft in its fleet, including 11 ATR 72-500s and 14 ATR 72-600s.

The introduction of this additional ATR 72-600 aircraft marks yet another step in Air New Zealand’s fleet modernization strategy. The new ATR aircraft will join airline’s existing fleet of 6 other ATR 72-600s and 11 ATR 72-500s. The new aircraft will enter service in July across Air New Zealand’s regional domestic network.

As with other recent deliveries to Air New Zealand, the 68-seat ATR 72-600 is equipped with the most advanced technology for the aircraft type, including a new glass cockpit avionics suite and updated cabin interiors.

The new ATR 72-600 will be operated by Mount Cook Airline for Air New Zealand.

Copyright Photo: Oliver Gregoire/AirlinersGallery.com. ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-600) F-WWEC (msn 1228) became ZK-MVF on delivery.

Air New Zealand aircraft slide show:

Air New Zealand-Mount Cook aircraft slide show:

Air KBZ to start its first international route

Air KBZ (Air Kanbawza) (Yangon) will start its first international route on August 1. The airline will launch a new route linking Yangon with Chiang Mai, Thailand per China Daily.

Air KBZ commenced scheduled passenger operations on domestic routes on April 2, 2011.

Copyright Photo: Richard Vandervord/AirlinersGallery.com. ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-600) XY-AJJ (msn 1085) taxies at the Yangon base.

Air KBZ aircraft slide show:

Binter Canarias orders six additional ATR 72-600s

Binter Canarias – Lineas Aereas de Canarias (Gran Canaria, Canary Islands) today signed an agreement for the purchase of six new ATR 72-600 aircraft, following their first batch for six ATR 72-600s in February 2014, bringing total orders for ATR aircraft to thirty.

The new ATR order is a part of the Binter’s fleet modernization and network improvements program. By progressively replacing its current fleet of aging turboprops with the modern and fuel efficient ATR-600s, the airline will significantly reduce operating and maintenance costs, gain further in profitability and offer more comfort to its passengers due to its enhanced seats design.

Deliveries of the 72-seat ATR-600 aircraft commence this year and will be completed by 2017.

Copyright Photo: Paul Bannwarth/AirlinersGallery.com. Binter currently operates a fleet of 16 ATR 72-500s. ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-500) EC-KSG (msn 907) approaches the runway on Las Palmas in the Canary Islands.

Binter Canarias aircraft slide show:

Flybe Finland to become Nordic Regional Airlines

Flybe Finland (Helsinki) will become Nordic Regional Airlines in May reflecting the recent change in ownership. The name change still requires approval by the Trade Register, which is expected to take place in early May.

According to the airline’s CEO Maunu Visuri, “The new name reflects our company’s core business, i.e. the regional flying. Our goal is to continue to be a high-quality and skilled Nordic airline to offer excellent service to their customers.”

A new look will be unveiled in the early summer and the transformation will be implemented in stages during 2015.

Flybe Finland aircraft slide show:

All images by Flybe Finland.

Amaszonas to acquire BQB’s AOC, plans to restart operations on May 4

Amaszonas Linea Aerea (La Paz, Bolivia) is making a big move. The small regional airline from Bolivia has agreed to acquire the Air Operators Certificate (AOC) of grounded BQB Lineas Aereas (Montevideo) according to this report by our partner Argentina Airline News, Photography & Spotting.

Above Copyright Photo: Marcelo F. De Biasi/AirlinersGallery.com (all others by Amaszonas Linea Aerea). BQB’s ATR ATR 72-212A (marketed as the ATR 72-500) CX-JPL (msn 816) is pictured at Buenos Aires (Aeroparque Jorge Newbery).

Under the agreed plan, Amaszonas would initially lease the three BQB ATR 72-212As (above) of BQB and restore operations starting on May 4 to Buenos Aires (Aeroparque) and Asuncion pending all approvals. BQB suspended operations on April 11.

BQB aircraft slide show:

Amaszonas currently operates a fleet of Bombardier (Canadair) CRJ200 regional jets (above). Eventually it would replace the ATR 72s with more CRJ200s.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Amaszonas current route map: