Tag Archives: ATR 72-600

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:

Braathens Aviation orders five ATR 72-600s

ATR and Sweden-based Braathens Aviation (Braathens Regional) (Stockholm-Bromma) today signed a contract for the purchase of five ATR 72-600s and 10 optional aircraft as part of the company’s fleet upgrade strategy. Deliveries will commence at the end of 2015.

The new aircraft, which will seat 72 passengers, will be operated on the carrier’s regional services in Sweden.. The ATR 72-600 will join an existing fleet of 5 ATR 72-500 airplanes operated by Braathens Regional from its base at Bromma Airport (Stockholm City Airport). The new ATR planes will enable Braathens Aviation to press on with an expansion plan and replace aging Saab 2000 units, while its overall ATR fleet will grow.

Braathens Regional is currently an operating carrier for SAS, Malmö Aviation and Sverigeflyg. Braathens Regional also performs charter operations within Europe. The company fleet consists of five ATR 42/72 aircraft, 11 SAAB 2000 and one SAAB 340. Today, Braathens Regional employs approximately 250 employees, with 8 bases in the Nordic region.

Image: ATR.

Cebu Pacific Air orders 16 high density ATR 72-600s

Cebu Pacific Air (Manila) ordered 16 ATR72 -600 from ATR, the European Turboprop aircraft manufacturer. At the Paris Air Show, Cebu Pacific and ATR announced that the deal includes options to acquire an additional 10 ATR72-600s, valuing the total aircraft order at $673 million, based on current list prices.

The order is part of Cebu Pacific’s fleet renewal program. Cebu Pacific currently operates a fleet of eight ATR 72-500 aircraft, which will be retired as the new aircraft enter service. The entry into service of the ATR 72-600 will see Cebu Pacific double its Turboprop fleet with new generation aircraft to meet growing demand in the Philippines for inter-island service.

The ATR 72-600 ordered by Cebu Pacific will be equipped, for the first time, with the high density Armonia cabin, the widest cabin in the turboprop market. It will be equipped with 78 slim-line seats and wider overhead bins with 30% more stowage space. These new technological innovations further enhance space and comfort for passengers.

About 330 ATRs – including more than 100 ATR 72-600s – are currently operated by 55 airlines in the Asia-Pacific region, where for many years now, are seen as the reference regional aircraft. The ATR 72-600 has the lowest seat per mile cost on the 70 seat segment, with significantly lower fuel and maintenance costs compared to similar class aircraft.

Cebu Air Inc. is the largest carrier in the Philippine air transportation industry, offering its low-cost services to more destinations and routes with higher flight frequency within the Philippines than any other airline. CEB currently operates a fleet of 55 aircraft comprised of 10 Airbus A319, 31 Airbus A320, 6 Airbus A330 and 8 ATR 72-500 aircraft.

Between 2015 and 2021, Cebu Pacific will take delivery of seven more brand-new Airbus A320 and 30 Airbus A321neo aircraft.

Image: ATR.

Cebu Pacific Air 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:

Can LIAT survive the latest challenge to its fragile inter-island ownership structure?

LIAT (Antigua) is once again facing an uncertain future as there are new fractures in the delicate inter-island ownership alliance.

The government of Antigua and Barbuda, according to the Antillean Media Group, is “furious over a leaked document which detailed plans for Barbados to divest its majority share in regional airline LIAT and to take several aircraft from its fleet to form a new airline”

Under the leaked report, Barbados has given the proposed new airline a code-named “Newco” handle. This new airline, if implemented, would compete against the gutted LIAT.

Antigua Prime Minister Gaston Browne has condemned the LIAT board and its proposed plan.

LIAT is currently owned by seven Caribbean governments, with three governments being the major shareholders (73.4%). Private shareholders (10%) and employees (5.3%) own the remaining shares.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Eurospot/AirlinersGallery.com. Barbados wants to take the new ATR 72-600s (ATR 72-212As) to form the new airline. V2-LIA (msn 1077) was delivered to LIAT on June 13, 2013.

LIAT aircraft slide show:

LIAT’s current route map:

Video: A view from a DHC-8-300 cockpit:

APEX Airlines takes delivery of its first ATR 72-600

Air Lease Corporation (Los Angeles) announced today the delivery of one new ATR 72-600 aircraft to APEX Airlines (Myanmar), a new customer for ALC. This aircraft is from ALC’s order book with ATR.

The new airline describes its activities:

APEX Airlines is the brand name of the airline which was incorporated in November 27, 2012 – as APEX Airline Public Company Limited which is representing the Tanintharyi Division. The company will soon start operations.

Copyright Photo: Eurospot/AirlinersGallery.com. APEX Airlines ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-600) F-WWED (msn 1229) became XY-AJV on delivery.

Hot New Photos aircraft slide show:

Another crash for TransAsia Airways, flight GE 235 clips a Taipei bridge and ends up in the river, 16 people dead

TransAsia Airways (Taipei) today (February 4) has suffered another crash. Brand new ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-600) B-22216 (msn 1141) with 53 passengers and five crew members operating as flight GE 235 reportedly lost power this morning on takeoff on runway 10 at 1052 am (local time). The airliner was unable to maintain its climb and hit a vehicle and clipped a bridge with its left wing and crashed into the Keelung River, killing at least 16 people. The crew report a Mayday on the takeoff and an engine flame out. The ATR 72 had just departed from the old Songshan Airport (TSA) (Taipei International Airport) in downtown Taipei. The airport was built in 1936.

According to the airline, 22 people have safely reached the shore. 16 are confirmed dead. All others were rushed to area hospitals.

Google Map below: A: Location of bridge that was clipped and B: Final location of the aircraft in the river.

Read the full story from the BBC: CLICK HERE

Top and Below Copyright Photos: Manuel Negrerie/AirlinersGallery.com. ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-600) B-22816 (msn 1141) was delivered new on April 15, 2014. It is pictured preparing to takeoff at Songshan Airport previously. Below, rescuers attempt to find everyone on board in the river.

Below Copyright Photo: Manuel Negrerie/AirlinersGallery.com. The ATR 72 unfortunately hit this yellow taxi on the bridge before careening into the river. The driver was able to get out of the vehicle with only minor injuries.

Video: Dramatic dash cam video of the crash:

TransAsia aircraft slide show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-Asia-3/Airlines-Asia3-QZ/TransAsia-Airways

Quick Duck Airlines suspends operations

Quick Duck Airlines (Bratislava) was a “quick airline”. The short-lived airline has suspended operations and returned their only aircraft according to ch-aviation. The airline started operations only on November 1, 2014.

Photo: Marek Vanzura/Wikipedia Commons. The lone aircraft, ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-600) OM-AQD (msn 1162), is seen at Brno Airport. It was leased in October 2014 from AVAP and has been returned.

Air Algerie takes delivery of its first ATR 72-600

Air Algerie (Algiers) on December 22, 2014 took delivery of its first ATR 72-600. The pictured ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-600) 7T-VUT (msn 1223) was handed over to the carrier

ATR also celebrated its 200th ATR -600 aircraft delivery.

The first of three ATR 72-600s ordered earlier in 2014 will join an existing fleet of 12 ATR 72-500s currently operating at the airline. The deliveries will continue until June 2016.

Air Algerie first ATR flew for the first time in 2003.

Image: ATR.

Air Algerie aircraft slide show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-Africa-1/Airlines-Africa1-AF/Air-Algerie