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."

FMI: www.atr.fr, www.airtahiti.pf