Tag Archives: ATR

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.

Hawaiian to acquire three ATR 72 freighters to operate under the ‘Ohana by Hawaiian brand

Hawaiian Holdings, Inc., parent of Hawaiian Airlines (Honolulu), today announced plans to acquire three ATR 72 turboprop aircraft in an all-cargo configuration to expand its interisland shipping services. The new operation will launch in the first half of 2016, starting with flights between Honolulu International Airport (HNL) and Kona International Airport (KOA), Kahului Airport (OGG), Līhuʻe Airport (LIH) and Hilo International Airport (ITO), with well-timed connections from Hawaiian Airlines’ mainland and international network.

The ATR 72 fleet can carry up to 18,000 pounds of cargo and will be able to handle five 88-by-108-feet aircraft pallets or up to seven LD3 containers, skidded cargo and oversized shipments. Express services for smaller shipments will also be available on its 160 daily B717 flights throughout the day.

The flights will be branded ‘Ohana by Hawaiian and operated by Empire Airlines, which also operates the 48-passenger ATR 42 turboprop service (above). The livery of the aircraft will feature the same kapa tail patterns created by Hilo-based artist Sig Zane and his son Kūha’o (below).

“Since launching the ‘Ohana by Hawaiian passenger operation in March 2014, we have established a track record of providing a reliable and efficient service for travel within the islands with an on-time arrival rate of 94 percent,” said Hadden Watt, managing director of ‘Ohana by Hawaiian. “We expect to deliver the same reliability and high-quality of service to our cargo customers for their interisland shipments.”

The new cargo operation will create more than 100 new Hawai’i-based jobs in various areas of air transportation including pilots, mechanics, ground handlers, sales, customer service and management positions.

Hawaiian Airlines was the first U.S. airline certified to ship cargo in 1942, and has provided high-quality overseas shipping and customer service to international customers, freight forwarders, carriers and many others in the industry for more than 70 years as the flagship carrier of the Pacific.

Top Copyright Photo: Ivan K. Nishimura/AirlinersGallery.com. Operated by Empire Airlines, ‘Ohana by Hawaiian-branded ATR 42-500 N804HC (msn 623) taxies at the Honolulu base.

Hawaiian aircraft slide show:

Videos:

The new Canadian North and First Air codeshare agreement starts on July 27

Canadian North Inc. (Yellowknife) and First Air (Ottawa) announced in May they had reached an agreement to codeshare on selected flights operated by both airlines in the far north region of Canada. The two carriers had previously planned to merge but later called off the merger. The codeshare agreement was their alternative to a planned merger.

The codeshare agreement will start on July 27 with significant changes for both carriers.

According to both Canadian regional carriers, “Introducing this codeshare will significantly improve flight schedules, provide greater choice for customers and continue to improve the sustainability of our airline. This agreement is less complex than a merger agreement, however many of the benefits envisioned previously in a merger scenario will be realized with it. Unlike a merger though, where a single merged firm sets prices post-merger, under this codeshare agreement each party will continue to independently set prices and compete for business.”

Canadian North continued;

“Our airline operates in one of the most challenging geographical and economic environments anywhere in the world,” says Canadian North President Steve Hankirk. “With escalating costs, shrinking travel budgets and increasing competition, we must always be looking for new, more efficient ways of offering our scheduled service to northerners. This codeshare agreement is a breakthrough that brings even more choice to our northern customers and ensures our long term sustainability.”

Above: Canadian North: “Our northern point of view” (click for full size view).

Canadian North has now published a new flight schedule in its reservation system allowing customers to make reservations through all booking channels. The first codeshare flight will take to the skies in late July. The following are highlights of the enhancements being made to the current flight schedule as a result of the codeshare agreement:

Iqaluit – Ottawa

The flight schedule will be enhanced by separating current flight times,
delivering additional choices for our customers, with early morning and
early afternoon departure times.

Cambridge Bay and the Kitikmeot

Daily Boeing jet flights between Yellowknife and Cambridge Bay will be
implemented, replacing the existing Dash-8 turboprop flights.

Edmonton, Yellowknife and the Mackenzie Valley

Daily jet service up and down the Mackenzie Valley will continue, and a
Monday and Friday non-stop flight will be added between Yellowknife and
Inuvik.

A Monday morning flight will be introduced from Yellowknife to Edmonton.

Trans Arctic

Combined service will continue with three days per week service.

Graph of the changes:

More details from Airline Route: CLICK HERE

Top Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Canadian North’s Bombardier (de Havilland Canada) DHC-8-106 Dash 8 C-GRGI (msn 304) taxies at the yellowknife base.

Canadian North aircraft slide show:

First Air aircraft slide show:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. First Air’s ATR 42-300 C-GKLB (msn 331) with the wolf on the tail is also seen at Yellowknife, a common connecting point for both carriers.

Canadian North current route map (click on the map for the full side view):

Canadian North Videos: From our partner JustPlanes:

B&H Airlines to be liquidated

B&H Airlines (Sarajevo) will be liquidated. The flag carrier of Bosnia and Herzegovina suspended schedule passenger operations on June 11. The federal government has decided to liquidate the carrier according to Balkans.com.

The airline was originally founded in 1994 as Air Bosna and became the current B&H Airlines in June 2005.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Photo Above: B&H Airlines. The personnel of the airline will lose their jobs.

Top Copyright Photo: Keith Burton/AirlinersGallery.com. ATR 72-212 T9-AAD (msn 464) approaches the runway at Zurich.

B&H Airlines aircraft slide show:

Video:

B&H Airlines aircraft slide show:

United Airlines and Azul announce a strategic partnership, United to acquire 5% of Azul’s stock

United Airlines (Chicago) and Azul Linhas Aereas Brasileiras (Azul Brazilian Airlines) (Sao Paulo) today (June 26) announced a new strategic partnership in which United will acquire an approximate 5 percent stake in Azul, Brazil’s third-largest airline, paving the way for the carriers to cooperate on a range of customer benefits including codesharing of flights (subject to government approval), expanded connection opportunities on routes between the United States and Brazil, in addition to other points in North and South America, and joint loyalty-program participation.

Through a wholly owned subsidiary, United will invest $100 million for its economic stake in Azul, which includes one seat on Azul’s board of directors.

As a result of the partnership, United and Azul will expand their frequent flyer loyalty agreement.

United began serving Brazil in 1992, with flights to both Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. The airline currently operates five daily flights to Brazil from its Chicago (O’Hare), Houston (Bush Intercontinental), Newark and Washington (Dulles) hubs.

Top Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. United Airlines’ Boeing 777-222 ER N229UA (msn 30557) climbs away from Los Angeles International Airport.

United Airlines aircraft slide show:

Azul aircraft slide show:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Marcelo F. De Biasi/AirlinersGallery.com. ATR 727-202 PR-AZS (msn 523) arrives at the Viracopos International Airport (Campinas) base serving the Campinas area near Sao Paulo.

Bahamasair to become a new ATR operator

Bahamasair (Nassau), the national flag carrier of Bahamas, has placed a firm order for two ATR 72-600s and three ATR 42-600s, thus becoming a new ATR customer.

Bahamasair’s first ATRs will be delivered before the end of 2015.

The new generation ATRs will allow Bahamasair to upgrade its fleet allowing the airline to solidify excellent passenger experience on both domestic and regional routes from the airline’s main base at Nassau. The 70-seat ATR 72-600s are the perfect solution to bolster and complement the airline’s current Boeing 737 fleet, while the 50-seat ATR 42-600s are very well adapted to connect Bahamas Islands.

Image: ATR.

Bahamasair aircraft slide show:

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.