Carrier Expands Regional Fleet

In today's fuel-conscious market, it can't be denied the turboprop regional airliner is making a comeback. This week, ATR and Vietnam Airlines announced a contract for the purchase of five new ATR 72-500s.

The contract will allow the airline to expand its ATR fleet and continue the renewal of its current fleet of ATR 72-200s. The airline started operating ATR aircraft in 1992 and today's fleet includes 7 ATR 72-200s and 3 ATR 72-500s.

Deliveries of the new aircraft will start by the end of 2009.

"We do have a very high confidence in the ATR family of aircraft, that we have operated successfully for years," said Nguyen Sy Hung, Chairman of Vietnam Airlines. "In 2001 we introduced three ATR 72-500s to expand and upgrade our fleet with '-500 series' aircraft. Now it's time to start harmonizing our whole fleet with aircraft offering an optimal comfort to the passengers and the lowest operating and maintenance costs."

ATR CEO Stephane Mayer stressed the importance of Vietnam and the whole Asian market in the success of the ATR program.

"In the last three years, we have booked orders with Asian customers for more than 100 new aircraft," he said. "Their choice of ATR aircraft to update their fleets reflects their confidence in the improved performance, technologies and comfort of our aircraft". And concluded: "Our commercial success in Asia is coupled by an increasing presence of ATR in the region. In a short period, we have open spare parts, customer support and training centers, in order to improve also a very high and quality-rated service to our clients. Being close to their needs and support them is a key point of the ATR's strategy of development."

FMI: www.atraircraft.com, www.vietnamairlines.com