Also Launch Customer For -600 Series
French Polynesia-based Air Tahiti took delivery this week of its
25th ATR aircraft, an ATR 72-500, in a ceremony held at the Final
Assembly Line of the European turboprop manufacturer in
Toulouse.
With this delivery the airline, which operates ATR aircraft
since 1986, counts today a fleet of three ATR 42-500s and seven ATR
72-500s. Air Tahiti is also one of the launch customers of the new
ATR '-600 series' aircraft, with an order for three ATR 42-600s and
two ATR 72-600s. Air Tahiti will become at the same time the first
operator of ATR '-600s' in the South Pacific.
The ATR 72-500 delivered this week, configured with 66 seats, is
equipped with ETOPS (Extended Range Twin-engine Operations) 120
minutes and with the 'Elegance' cabin. The aircraft is powered by
PW 127M engines and features state-of-the-art technological
innovations in passenger comfort, communications and navigation aid
tools.
Thanks to the ETOPS 120 capability of the -500 series, Air
Tahiti is able to operate its ATR fleet over an exclusive network
of islands as vast as Europe.
"We are very satisfied of maintaining such a long partnership
with ATR, reinforced by the delivery of this 25th aircraft," said
Mate Galenon, Managing Director of Air Tahiti. "For more than 20
years, the ATR have proven to be the right choice for our
interisland operations. The high commonality between the ATR 42s
and ATR 72s represents a clear advantage for us, as it allows us to
operate our fleet optimally in some forty destinations, while
minimizing our operating costs." He added: "We have a total
confidence in the ATR aircraft family and we are very proud of
further developing our partnership with the introduction of the
first ATR 42-600s and ATR 72-600s that will fly in the Pacific
region. These aircraft, because of their very low fuel consumption,
will enable us to enhance our operational capabilities, while
reducing our environmental footprint, which is a major value in
Polynesia."
"With the delivery of this 25th aircraft, ATR is writing a very
important page of its history, which talks about mutual confidence,
fidelity in our product and suitability of our aircraft for the
particularities of the routes operated by Air Tahiti," said
Stephane Mayer, ATR CEO. "This airline has clearly contributed to
consolidate, worldwide, the image of the ATRs as the right choice
for interisland operations, especially with the ATR '-500 series'
like the one we deliver today". He added: "The ATRs provide
solutions which are environmental-friendly, while proposing
state-of-the art comfort and unbeatable performances, especially on
short runways such as the ones used regularly by Air Tahiti."