ATR 72-500 Will Be Leased To Bangkok Airways

TAT Group's leasing subsidiary, AIR Ltd., took delivery last week of an ATR 72-500 aircraft which marks the 40th ATR aircraft delivered to the TAT Group. The aircraft will be leased to Bangkok Airways.

Coincidentally, both TAT Group and Bangkok Airways are each celebrating their 40th anniversary in 2008. The delivery ceremony was held at the Final Assembly Line of ATR in Toulouse.

"We have consolidated a long and very fruitful partnership with ATR since the early nineties, and we are honored with the delivery of this 40th aircraft," said Rodolphe Marchais, Chairman and CEO of TAT Group. "We are very satisfied with the performances of our ATR aircraft, which are being operated worldwide and which have demonstrated to be a very good investment for AIR, our leasing subsidiary."

Stephane Mayer, ATR CEO, added, "Delivering the 40th ATR to the TAT Group is a major milestone for us. We are proud of the confidence they have shown in our product and in its suitability as a sound investment that is operated in many different environments worldwide We are also proud to count Bangkok Airways among our list of longstanding and loyal operators, an airline which has proved its confidence in the ATR family of aircraft all along the development of its regional network."

With the delivery of this 70-seat ATR, Bangkok Airways brings its ATR 72-500 fleet to nine aircraft, with an additional aircraft to be delivered next year. The carrier started operating ATR aircraft in 1994 and has become one of the largest operators of ATRs in South East Asia.

FMI: www.atraircraft.com