Tag Archives: ATR 72-500

Binter Canarias orders six ATR 72-600s

Binter Canarias (Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain) and ATR have announced a contract for the sale of six firm ATR 72-600 aircraft. With the acquisition of these new ATR 72-600s the airline will enter into the renewal process of their current fleet of 18 ATR 72s which have been operating successfully in the inter-islands network for years. Binter Canarias is a long-standing ATR operator in Europe, introducing their first ATR aircraft in the late 1980s.

Copyright Photo: Gerry McCready/AirlinersGallery.com. Binter Canarias’ ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-500) EC-LGF (msn 907) taxies past the camera at Lanzarote in the Canary Islands.

Binter Canarias:

Bangkok Air orders six ATR 72-600 turboprops

Bangkok Airways (Bangkok Air) (Bangkok) and ATR today announced a contract for the sale of six firm ATR 72-600 aircraft and two options. Bangkok Airways has been operating ATR aircraft for two decades and currently operates a fleet of eight ATR 72-500s. The first new ATR 72-600s will be delivered later this year, allowing Bangkok Airways to start renewing its fleet.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-500) HS-PGF (msn 700) named “Hua Hin” arrives back at the Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) base.

Bangkok Air:

Air Algerie firms up an order for three new ATR 72-600s

Air Algerie (Algiers) has signed a purchase agreement for 3 new ATR 72-600s. The contract value is $74.1 million at current list price. The entry into service is expected from end of 2014 through 2015. When delivered, the 68 seat new-comers will join an existing ATR fleet at the airline that currently includes 12 ATR 72-500s flying primarily on domestic and short regional routes. The new order will take Air Algerie’s ATR fleet to 15 ATR 72s consolidating its position of the largest ATR operator on the African continent.

Copyright Photo: Michael Stappen/AirlinersGallery.com. ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-500) 7T-VUO (msn 901) prepares to land at Palma de Mallorca.

Air Algerie:

Air Dolomiti ends ATR 72 operations today

Air Dolomiti (Verona) today (October 26) will operate the last ATR 72 flight from the Munich hub to Trieste, Italy. Flight LH 1940 will also end an era. This is also the last turboprop flight in the Lufthansa Group per Austrian Wings.

Lufthansa ended Viscount 800 service in 1971 but in recent years has contracted with feeder airlines to operate turboprop aircraft. The turboprop aircraft have been gradually replaced with pure jet aircraft. Tonight’s last ATR 72-500 flight will be the last turboprop flight with any airline using the LH code.

Read the full story from Austrian Wings (in German): CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Marco Finelli/AirlinersGallery.com. ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-500) I-ADLT (msn 638) prepares to land at Bologna.

Air Dolomiti:

The High Court in Singapore approves the Virgin Australia acquisition of Skywest Airlines

Virgin Australia Airlines (Brisbane) has received the approval of the High Court in Singapore to acquire Skywest Airlines (Perth). Previously the Australian Foreign Investment Review Board cleared the merger and Virgin Australia on March 13 received approval from Skywest Airlines Ltd shareholders of the proposed acquisition of 100% of the issued share capital of Skywest, pursuant to a scheme of arrangement under the laws of Singapore. The acquisition process is now complete.

Copyright Photo: Peter Gates. Skywest Airlines already operates a fleet of ATR 72-500s on regional routes for Virgin Australia. ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-500) VH-FVI (msn 955) is pictured on the ramp at Brisbane.

Virgin Australia:

Virgin Australia-Skywest:

Skywest Airlines:

Skywest Airlines operates an extensive route network under its own brand in Western Australia.

Video:

TransAsia Airways promotes Kinmen Island with this wind lion god logo

TransAsia Airways (Taipei) is promoting a duty free shop area on Kinmen Island featuring the famous wind lion god figure as the mascot. Three ATR 72-212s will featured this unusual logo.

According to Wikipedia, Kinmen or Quemoy is a small archipelago of several islands administered by Republic of China (Taiwan): Greater Kinmen, Lesser Kinmen and some islets. The islands are located off the coast of mainland China.

Kinmen is known for its shisa (wind lion god) figures.

Top and Bottom Copyright Photos: Manuel Negrerie. A close-up and ramp view of ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-500) B-22805 (msn 558) with the wind lion god logo.

TransAsia Airways:

Kingfisher Airlines’ license expires today

Kingfisher Airlines‘ (Mumbai) Scheduled Operator’s Permit (SOP) is due to expire today (December 31) according to this report to The Economic Times. The carrier had proposed to restart scheduled operations with five Airbus aircraft and two ATRs but the Indian government was concerned about its financing and funding and asked for additional details. The airline suspended operations on October 4, 2012.

Read the full story: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Pepscl. ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-500) F-WWEK (msn 750) became VT-KAI when it was handed over on June 27, 2007.

Kingfisher Airlines:

Air Dolomiti to phase out its 10 ATR 72s by November 2013

Air Dolomiti (Verona and Munich) intends to phase out its 10 remaining ATR 72-500s by November 2013 per Le Journal de l’Aviation. The carrier will be adding more Embraer ERJ 195s to replace the turboprops. Parent Lufthansa wants to phase out the use of turboprops.

Read the full report (in French): CLICK HERE

Air Dolomiti:

Etihad Airways considers an investment in grounded Kingfisher Airlines

Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi) is in talks with Kingfisher Airlines (Mumbai) about a possible minority investment in the grounded airline according to the Wall Street Journal.

Read the full article: CLICK HERE

Meanwhile the Deccan Herald of India believes Jet Airways (Mumbai) is a better investment for the Gulf carrier.

Read the full article: CLICK HERE

Top Copyright Photo: Jay Selman. Boeing 777-3FX ER A6-ETF (msn 39700) prepares to land at Bangkok.

Etihad Airways:

Kingfisher Airlines:

Jet Airways:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Antony J. Best. ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-500) with the test registration of F-WWEG (msn 788) arrives at Farnborough. Although painted, the turboprop was never delivered to Kingfisher Airlines as VT-KAT. Instead it went to Air Botswana as A2-ABS.

Lao Airlines orders two ATR 72-600s

Lao Airlines (Vientiane) has signed a firm contract for two ATR 72-600s. These two new aircraft will be added to Lao Airlines’ current fleet of four ATR 72-500s (ATR 72-212As). The airline is in the midst of expanding its fleet in order to increase frequency on existing routes and to open up new destinations in the surrounding region.