Tag Archives: ATR 72-600

Lion Group orders 40 additional ATR 72-600s, becomes the largest ATR customer

Lion Group (Jakarta) has signed a $1 Billion purchase agreement for 40 additional ATR 72-600s from ATR, hiking the firm order total to 100 aircraft. Lion Group becomes ATR’s largest customer ever.

There are currently three subsidiary airlines in the Lion Group operating ATRs: Wings Air with a fleet of 32 ATR aircraft operating in Indonesia; Malindo Air with a fleet of 10 ATRs operating in Malaysia; and Thai Lion Air, so far with 1 ATR in operation in Thailand. These additional 40 ATR 72-600s will be used to meet the growing demand forecast over the next five years both within the Group’s existing operators’ networks and to develop other opportunities for ATR operations throughout Asia and developing markets worldwide. Deliveries of the aircraft signed today will start in 2017 and run into 2019.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Wings Air’s ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-600) PK-WGG (msn 1063) departs from Denpasar on the island of Bali.

Wings Air:

Jet Airways to end low-fare JetKonnect flights on December 1

Jet Airways (Mumbai) is getting out of the low-fare business and will concentrate on full service flights under its own brand. All JetKonnect-branded flights will end on November 30 and on the following day all flights will be operated under Jet Airways brand.

JetKonnect (Mumbai) was originally known as Sahara Airlines which started operations on December 3, 1993. The airline changed its name to Air Sahara on October 2, 2000. Jet Airways acquired the airline and changed its name to Jetlite on June 1, 2007.

Jetlite was replaced and merged into Jet Airways’s JetKonnect brand on March 25, 2012.

Jet Airways issued this statement:

From December 1, 2014 all existing JetKonnect flights will operate as full service flights under a single brand, Jet Airways.

All guests booking flights on or after September 15, 2014 for travel on or after December 1, 2014 will enjoy a full service experience onboard all Jet Airways and JetKonnect operated flights across our domestic network. This enhancement will involve complimentary meal service onboard all our flights for travel effective December 01, 2014. Consequently Sky Café, our Buy on Board service will be discontinued.

JetKonnect flies to 47 cities within India with over 430 daily flights with a mix of Boeing and ATR aircraft.

Copyright Photo: Eurospot. Jet Airways retained the Jetlite color scheme and simply added JetKonnect titles when the two brands were merged. ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-600) F-WWEQ (msn 1056) descends from the clouds at an overcast Toulouse. F-WWEO became VT-JCX on delivery on November 30, 2012.

Jet Airways aircraft slide show:

Air Sahara aircraft slide show:

LIAT to downsize its fleet in 2015, possible staff cuts

LIAT – The Caribbean Airline (Antigua) has issued this statement about the reduction of its fleet from 11 aircraft to nine and possible staff cuts:

LIAT is about to embark on its annual budget planning exercise and to put in place its operational plans for 2015.

As a result of the airline’s fleet transition program, LIAT will be a smaller airline in 2015 than in 2014, operating a fleet of nine aircraft as opposed to 11 in 2014.

LIAT Chief Executive Officer David Evans said: “Like any responsible business we have to examine our cost base and if we fly fewer aircraft in 2015 than in 2014, we also need to reduce our costs to reflect this. We have also been mandated by our Board of Directors to ensure that our costs reflect the level of activity that we carry out. It is too early to say what impact there may be on jobs as a result of this, and the company will consult with its staff and their representatives over its plans before making any announcement.”

LIAT, The Caribbean Airline, operates a modern fleet of ATR 42 and ATR 72 aircraft across a regional network of 18 destinations. It is owned by regional shareholders, with the majority being the Governments of Barbados, Antigua & Barbuda and St. Vincent & the Grenadines.

Copyright Photo: Raul Sepulveda/AirlinersGallery.com. ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-600) V2-LIA (msn 1077) stops at San Juan, Puerto Rico.

LIAT Aircraft Slide Show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-Caribbean/Airlines-Caribbean-AZ/LIAT

Route Map:

Myanma Airways orders six ATR 72-600s, will change its name to Myanmar National Airlines

Myanmar’s state-owned national airline Myanma Airways (Yangon), to be named Myanmar National Airlines in the near future, has signed an agreement with ATR for 6 new generation ATR 72-600s with options for 6 additional aircraft. The acquisition of these new ATRs forms part of the carrier’s ambitious strategy to expand its global footprint to establish Myanma Airways (Myanmar National Airlines) as a major carrier in the region.

In parallel with the new order, following the company’s dynamic development efforts, ATR will assist Myanma Airways (Myanmar National Airlines) to enhance its maintenance capabilities through the set-up of a modern MRO in Yangon meeting the highest international standards.

The new airplanes are scheduled for delivery in 2015 through to 2017. The new ATR 72-600s will completely and gradually replace the existing ATR fleet, boosting the airline services considerably by opening new routes, increasing flight frequencies to existing routes and offering the highest level of comfort to Myanma Airways (Myanmar National Airlines) customers.

Myanma Airways:

Air Lease orders seven additional ATR 72-600s

ATR (Toulouse) and the leasing company Air Lease Corporation (ALC) (Los Angeles) have signed an agreement for the purchase of seven additional ATR 72-600s. Air Lease Corporation (ALC) has purchased ATRs every year since its first contract at Farnborough in 2010. With this agreement, ALC now has 28 ATR 72-600s in its portfolio.

ATRs are currently operated by over 180 carriers worldwide.

Bangkok Air orders three ATR 72-600s

Bangkok Airways (Bangkok Air) (Bangkok) and the European turboprop aircraft manufacturer ATR are pleased to announce the signature of a contract for the purchase of three ATR 72-600s, valued at approximately USD24.6 million each (subject to negotiated discount). This deal represents the conversion into firm orders of the options included in the deal unveiled earlier this year at the Singapore Airshow (6 firm ATR 72-600s and two options), plus one additional aircraft.

With the acquisition of these new ATR 72-600s, the airline will bring to nine its total fleet of ATR 72-600s. The delivery of their first aircraft is scheduled for the fourth quarter of this year, while the 9th aircraft is expected to arrive into the airline’s fleet by the first quarter of 2017. With the introduction of their new ATR 72-600s, Bangkok Airways is further extending its long term partnership with ATR since the two companies have been cooperating for more than 20 years.

Bangkok Air:

Fiji Link is launched with the delivery of its first ATR 72-600

Fiji Link (subsidiary of Fiji Airways, formerly Pacific Sun) (Suva, Fiji) was officially launched with the delivery of the pictured 68-seat ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-600) DQ-FJZ (msn 1146) on May 31. The new type was due to arrive in Fiji today. This delivery also starts the rebranding of Pacific Sun as Fiji Link.

ATR issued this statement:

Fiji Link took delivery of its first brand new ATR 72-600 on operating lease from Singapore-based aircraft leasing company Avation PLC. The acquisition of the new ATR is as part of airline’s dynamic expansion plan to support network growth on its domestic and regional routes in the Pacific Islands, which it today operates on behalf of Fiji Airways.

The larger capacity, 68-seat ATR 72-600 of the new generation will allow the Fiji Airways Group to enhance connectivity over Fiji’s larger domestic ports Nadi, Suva and Labasa, while boosting frequency of flights to other Pacific island destinations.

The new aircraft will be based at Suva Airport where Fiji Link is about to start its first full program of flying to Fiji’ existing domestic and regional destinations while commencing flights on a new route Suva-Apia.

The ATR-600 series aircraft will provide Fiji Link with the vital reduced operating and maintenance costs optimizing and reinforcing to maximum its airline’s economics.

A second ATR 72-600 is due in November and December 2014 which will allow the airline to retire its two ATR 42-500s.

Copyright Photo: Ariel Shocron/AirlinersGallery.com. The pictured ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-600) F-WWEK became DQ-FJZ on delivery.

Mann Yadanarpon Airlines wants to expand to Thailand

Mann Yadanarpon Airlines (Yangon) took delivery of its first ATR 72-600 (ATR 72-212A) (XY-AJO, msn 1127) on January 28, 2014. The first aircraft was welcomed to the Yangon base three days later. The new airline started operating on March 5, 2014 from Yangon to Nyaung-U, Mandalay, Heho and Tachileik with two ATR 72-600s (XY-AJO and XY-AJP) on daily service. Service to Kyaing Tong is operated four days a week.

Flying currently domestic routes in Myanmar (formerly Burma), the regional carrier wants to expand internationally to Bangkok and Phuket, Thailand.

All photos and images by Mann Yadanarpon Airlines.

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:

Dubai Aerospace orders 40 ATR 72-600s

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) and ATR today announced a contract for the purchase of 40 ATR 72-600s, which includes firm orders for 20 aircraft and options for 20 additional ones. DAE is the largest aviation leasing firm in the Middle East with an aircraft portfolio of approximately $3.3 billion comprised of Boeing 737s, 777s, Airbus A320s and A330s. Today’s deal represents DAE’s first order for regional aircraft. The 20 firm aircraft are scheduled to deliver between2015 and 2018.

Image: ATR.