The first ATR 72-600 turboprop aircraft destined
for the Asia Pacific region was delivered to the leasing company
Avation Plc, as part of an agreement with Australian regional
carrier Skywest Airlines and Virgin Australia.
The aircraft was received by Avations
Chief Operating Officer, Rod Mahoney, at ATRs manufacturing
facility in Toulouse, France.
Avation Plc has placed firm orders for nine ATR
72-600 aircraft to be operated on Australian regional routes and
has options to purchase another eight ATR 72-600s. The company
already has placed six ATR 72-500s in Australia as part of the
agreement.
The ATR 72-600 is the latest addition to the ATR
aircraft family, and features a new full-glass cockpit, awarded Giugiaro-designed
cabin interiors and PW 127M engines.
Jeff Chatfield, Chairman and Founding Director
of Avation Plc, said, This is the first of a series of ATR
72-600s we are buying and we are delighted that it will be the
first operating in the Asia Pacific region where we are
successfully operating on a number of Australian regional routes.
The acquisition is in line with our strategy to own and maintain a
fleet aircraft which are of a low age and very fuel efficient and
which as a result, have a high residual value to shareholders.
ATR 72-600
Passenger capacity: 68-74 seats Engines:
Pratt & Whitney 127M Maximum power at take-off: 2,750
horsepower per engine Maximum weight at take-off: 23,000 kg
Maximum load: 7,500 kg Maximum range with full passenger load:
900 nautical miles (1,665 kilometres)
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