Fri, Mar 20, 2009
Air Botswana To Receive Two Planes
National-flag carrier Air Botswana took delivery this week of
its first new ATR 72-500, in accordance with a deal for two ATR
72-500s inked last year and valued at roughly US $37 million. The
carrier will add its new ATR 72-500s to its current fleet of three
ATR 42-500s, operating the new turboprops on routes previously
operated by regional jets that become unprofitable.
"The introduction of these new ATR 72-500 aircraft responds to
our need to increase our route coverage and to provide more
frequencies to our passengers," said L.M. Bantsi, Acting General
Manager of Air Botswana. "There is a strong development of the
regional air transportation in Botswana and we are committed to
match this opportunity with larger capacity ATRs."
Stéphane Mayer, ATR CEO, underlined "the very strong
commonality between both the ATR 42-500 and the ATR 72-500, which
will ease the introduction of the new aircraft into the fleet of
Air Botswana. Such commonality will also represent a significant
reduction in training and spares investments as well as ongoing
operating costs." He added: "The ATR aircraft are playing an
important role in the development of the regional air connectivity
in the whole African continent. We count today more than 80
aircraft being operated by some 25 carriers. This reflects the
suitability of the ATR aircraft for some specific operating
conditions in the continent, including hot and high environments
and small and remote airfields."
Since the beginning of the program, ATR has sold 979 aircraft --
420 ATR 42s and 559 ATR 72s).
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