Wed, Dec 14, 2011
The Aircraft Will Fly On Behalf Of Virgin Australia
Australia’s Skywest Airlines will introduce five more ATR
72-600 aircraft into its fleet, to be operated on a range of routes
on behalf of major carrier Virgin Australia. These five aircraft
take to 13 the number of firm orders of ATR 72 aircraft placed by
the Singapore-based leasing company Avation PLC in 2011 for Skywest
Airlines: four ATR 72-500s, which are already operating on Virgin
Australia's regional network, and nine new generation ATR 72-600s,
the first of which Skywest will receive next year. This new
contract for five ATR 72-600s also includes options for eight
additional aircraft. The list price of the agreement, including
options, is over US$ 295 million.
Like the ATR 72-500s now operated for Virgin Australia by
Skywest Airlines, all of the ATR 72-600 aircraft will fly in
Virgin’s new white and red colour scheme.
The latest five aircraft are scheduled to be delivered from
early 2013 through early 2014.
"We are delighted to have firmed up five additional aircraft and
secured price protection on an additional eight aircraft over the
next few years. This new agreement provides a potential delivery
stream of aircraft for the next four years. Avation PLC has entered
discussions with respect to financing the acquisition costs of
these aircraft" says Avation PLC Chairman, Jeff Chatfield.
The Chief Executive Officer of ATR, Filippo Bagnato, welcomed
the increased order by Skywest, for its operations on behalf of
Virgin Australia, so soon after the type was introduced into the
Australian market. “The first four ATR 72-500s are now
operating successfully on Virgin routes in eastern Australia, and
are fast gaining popularity with both the airline and its
passengers,” said Mr Bagnato.
“It is a great endorsement of the ATR 72 that after just
one month of operating in Australia, Skywest and Virgin have
decided to add more aircraft” he said. “These aircraft
are the right size for the routes they fly, and offer the best fuel
economy of any comparable aircraft in the 70-seat range, making
them ideal for Virgin”.
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