Tag Archives: ATR 72

IndiGo takes delivery of its first ATR 72-600

IndiGo, India’s largest airline by market share, on November 17, 2017 took delivery of its first ATR 72-600. The airline and ATR announced earlier this year an agreement for the acquisition of 50 ATR 72-600s. This delivery represents a major step in the airline’s ambitious plan to further develop its fleet with the introduction of fuel-efficient and cost-effective ATR 72-600s, thus expanding its regional footprint and bringing air connectivity to smaller Indian airports and communities.

The introduction of the new ATR fleet goes in line with the Indian government’s Regional Connectivity Scheme, which aims to boost economic development, employment and tourism by connecting small and remote cities. Under this scheme 100 new airports are expected to be created in the next three years.

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IndiGo plans to put the new type into revenue service on December 21, 2017 on the following routes:

Our brand-new fleet of ATRs is flying to more of India. Bookings now open for the below sectors:-

Flight Number	Origin	Destination	Departure	Arrival	Starts	Starting Fare*
6E 7107	Bengaluru	Tirupati	9:40	10:35	9-Jan-18	1499	Book Now
6E 7121	Bengaluru	Rajahmundry	10:45	12:30	16-Jan-18	1999	Book Now
6E 7125	Chennai	Rajahmundry	17:55	19:40	16-Jan-18	1499	Book Now
6E 7102	Chennai	Mangalore	11:35	13:30	21-Dec-17	1499	Book Now
6E 7101	Hyderabad	Mangalore	6:40	8:40	21-Dec-17	1999	Book Now
6E 7103	Hyderabad	Nagpur	16:15	18:10	21-Dec-17	1999	Book Now
6E 7105	Hyderabad	Tirupati	6:25	7:50	9-Jan-18	1999	Book Now
6E 7112	Hyderabad	Tirupati	12:40	14:05	9-Jan-18	1999	Book Now
6E 7116	Hyderabad	Tirupati	19:25	20:50	9-Jan-18	1999	Book Now
6E 7118	Hyderabad	Rajahmundry	7:05	8:20	16-Jan-18	1499	Book Now
6E 7123	Hyderabad	Rajahmundry	14:35	15:50	16-Jan-18	1499	Book Now
6E 7101	Mangalore	Chennai	9:05	11:05	21-Dec-17	1499	Book Now
6E 7102	Mangalore	Hyderabad	13:50	15:40	21-Dec-17	1499	Book Now
6E 7104	Nagpur	Hyderabad	18:30	20:25	21-Dec-17	1999	Book Now
6E 7119	Rajahmundry	Bengaluru	8:40	10:25	16-Jan-18	1999	Book Now
6E 7124	Rajahmundry	Chennai	16:10	17:35	16-Jan-18	1499	Book Now
6E 7122	Rajahmundry	Hyderabad	12:50	14:05	16-Jan-18	999	Book Now
6E 7126	Rajahmundry	Hyderabad	20:10	21:25	16-Jan-18	999	Book Now
6E 7106	Tirupati	Bengaluru	8:10	9:15	9-Jan-18	1499	Book Now
6E 7113	Tirupati	Bengaluru	14:45	15:50	9-Jan-18	1499	Book Now
6E 7108	Tirupati	Hyderabad	10:55	12:05	9-Jan-18	1499	Book Now
6E 7115	Tirupati	Hyderabad	17:35	18:50	9-Jan-18	1499	Book Now
6E 7117	Tirupati	Hyderabad	21:10	22:35	9-Jan-18	1499	Book Now

Top Copyright Photo: IndiGo Airlines ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-600) F-WWEF (VT-IYA) (msn 1457) TLS (EuroSpot). Image: 939920.

FedEx Express orders 30 ATR 72-600F freighters

FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corporation, has announced it has completed a purchase agreement with ATR that will begin to modernize the company’s fleet of feeder aircraft.

Under the agreement, FedEx Express is making a firm purchase of 30 ATR 72-600F aircraft with options to purchase up to 20 additional ATR 72-600Fs. Delivery of the first aircraft is expected in 2020, with subsequent deliveries of about six aircraft per year over a five year period.

ATR 72-600Fs will have:

a forward Large Cargo Door (LCD) and a rear upper-hinged cargo door
digital cockpits
advanced avionics technology and enhanced take-off performance
ADS-B “out” capabilities

The ATR 72-600F is equipped with reinforced floor panels and will support both bulk cargo and Unit Load Device (ULD) configurations. The aircraft has a bulk capacity of 2,630 cubic feet (74.6 cubic meters). When in ULD mode, it can accommodate up to seven LD3 containers, or five 88” x 108” pallets, or nine 88” x 62” pallets.

Current FedEx feeder aircraft do not carry containers or palletized freight, so these new features will help the company better serve customers in the air freight market where palletized shipments are the norm.

FedEx currently deploys more than 300 feeder aircraft in 45 countries. Most of these feeder aircraft are owned by FedEx, and are leased and operated by different third-party air carriers under their own operating certificates. The FedEx feeder fleet is comprised of aircraft under 60,000 pounds maximum gross take-off weight, and allows the company to provide fast, economical service to small and medium-sized markets around the world.

The FedEx feeder fleet complements the company’s jet fleet of over 360 aircraft, including Boeing 777s, 767s and 757s, MD-11s, MD-10s, Airbus A300s and Airbus A310s.

Copyright Photo: The new ATR 72-600s will replace the older ATR 42s and ATR 72s. FedEx Feeder-Empire Airlines (3rd) ATR 72-212 (F) N805FX (msn 372) ANC (Michael B. Ing). Image: 930573.

Eastern Airways adds its first ATR 72-600

Eastern Airways on September 27, 2017 introduced a new 72-seat ATR 72-600 aircraft to its fleet, the first of its kind to operate in the regional airline’s network.

The modern aircraft will operate on the Aberdeen to Scatsta (Shetland Isles) oil contract charter services for the Integrated Aviation Consortium (IAC).

This is the first of two new ATRs being added, reflecting the airline’s on-going commitment to the oil and gas UK-based sector.

The aircraft was delivered from the production line in Toulouse, France, earlier this month and will enter service in the coming weeks.  Tony Burgess, Eastern Airways’ chief operating officer, said: “These efficient, modern aircraft help us to fulfil a vital role and provide a long-term commitment supporting the oil and gas industry.

The aircraft has twin turbo props using two powerful Pratt and Whitney 172m engines, giving the aircraft a maximum cruise speed of 317mph.
The aircraft manufacturers serial number (MSN 1448) and is being leased from Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC).

Eastern Airways celebrates its 20th anniversary later this year. The airline operates two Embraer 170s, three Embraer 145 jets, nine SAAB 2000s, and is the largest operator in the world of Jetstream 41 aircraft with 17.

Previously on September 1, 2017 Eastern AIrways made this announcement:

Island communities in particular will, from September 1, 2017), enjoy the added benefits of extra choice, lower fares and a wealth of onward connections as Flybe’s new joint venture flights with alliance partner, Eastern Airways, take to the skies for the first time in Scotland.

To further mark its longstanding commitment to serving the residents of Orkney, Shetland and Stornoway, Flybe’s CEO Christine Ourmieres-Widener will this morning announce details of an exciting new local communities’ initiative.

Europe’s largest regional airline will provide a continuation of six branded Flybe routes now operated by Eastern Airways’ aircraft from: Sumburgh to Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow, Aberdeen to Kirkwall and from Glasgow to Stornoway and Manchester, with frequency as follows.

The airlines’ partnership will also see the Embraer 170 jet service operating on Shetland routes for the first time, shaving some 30 minutes off the recognised flight times.

FREQUENCY OF THE SIX ROUTES:

Aberdeen – Sumburgh & Kirkwall: Up to 3 flights a day
Edinburgh & Glasgow – Sumburgh: Daily flights
Glasgow – Stornoway: Up to 3 flights a day
Glasgow to Manchester: Up to four flights a day

Eastern Airways had previously signed a Heads of Terms agreement with Flybe forming an alliance between both UK airlines. The aim is for contracts to be finalized and signed within a matter of weeks.

The agreement includes a five year franchise partnership whereby Eastern Airways will operate its scheduled network under the Flybe brand. In addition to this, Eastern Airways will provide four aircraft to operate a number of existing Flybe branded routes from Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester under the Flybe franchise.

As part of the franchise partnership, Eastern Airways routes will operate with Flybe’s BE flight codes. Eastern Airways livery will be retained on its aircraft for scheduled services and the carrier’s ad-hoc charter services and corporate shuttle operations.

Photo: Eastern Airways.

FAT introduces its first ATR 72-600

FAT – Far Eastern AIr Transport (Taipei-Songshan) has officially introduced its first ATR 72-600 (ATR 72-212A) (B-28068, msn 1110, ex Jettime OY-JZA) at a hangar event at Songshan Airport. FAT is planning to start operations soon with new type after CAA certification.

All copyright photos by Manuel Negrerie.

Route Map:

Mandarin Airlines orders six ATR 72-600s

ATR and Taiwan’s Mandarin Airlines, a regional subsidiary of Taiwan’s flag carrier China Airlines, has signed a contract for the purchase of six ATR 72-600s, valued at some $160 million (US).

With the acquisition of these brand new ATR -600s, Mandarin Airlines becomes a new member of the ATR family. The aircraft will operate within Taiwan’s domestic network, featuring the highest standards of passenger comfort and the most advanced technologies. With its new fleet of ATR 72-600s, Mandarin Airlines will benefit from the lowest operating costs among all 70-seat regional aircraft, and will be able to compete in a highly challenging market with cutting-edge and affordable air services.

Besides the contract signing, ATR is also willing to provide engineering and technical support to China Airlines and its subsidiaries to set-up in-house capabilities for ATR heavy maintenance, up to C-checks.

PNG Air orders five additional ATR 72-600s

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PNG Air on November 7, 2016 announced a $134 million (US) contract for the firm purchase of five ATR 72-600s. The deal represents the conversion into firm orders of five options from a previous deal.

Formerly known as Airlines PNG, PNG Air signed for a total of six firm ATR 72-600s and 14 options in 2014. They started operating their first ATR 72-600 in November 2015. Today, the airline operates four ATR 72-600s and will receive the fifth aircraft before the end of this year.

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The five new ATR 72-600 aircraft plus an additional one on lease will bring the total ATR fleet to 12 when the last aircraft is delivered in 2022.

The airline is currently undergoing a major transformation plan, with an ambitious fleet renewal and rebranding and a new business strategy focused on the domestic market.

Images: PNG Air.

Route Map:

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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.

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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.