Holds Options For An Additional 25 Aircraft In 2015

The low-cost Indonesian carrier Citilink has reportedly placed an order for 25 ATR 72-600 turboprop airliners, with options for an additional 25 aircraft in 2015. The aircraft carry a price tag of some $20 million each, placing the total value of the order at about $1 billion.

The French news service AFP reports that the carrier will likely take delivery of the first five airplanes in September, with the remainder no arriving until 2017.

The Indonesian archipelago consists of more than 17,000 islands, making access to air travel critical. Citilink marketing and communications VP  Aristo Kristandyo told AFP that the county has seen significant growth in its middle class population, and that translates into an increase in demand for air travel.

The carrier currently operates a fleet of 21 Boeing 737s and Airbus A320s to 11 cities in the country which claims a population of 240 million. Citilink CEO Arif Wibowo said that the addition of the turboprops will allow the airline to offer service to more remote regions and provincial cities that can't accommodate the airline's larger airplanes.

(ATR 72-600 image from file)

FMI: www.citilink.co.id