New Engines, New Planes, Fresh Equipment Bolsters Taiwanese Regional

Mandarin Airlines got its first new production ATR 72-600 in quite some time, with another 5 on track for delivery throughout next year.

The order for a half-dozen aircraft was solidified at the Paris Air Show earlier this year, when Mandarin agreed to buy 6 brand-new ATR 72s.

The aircraft will be the first to make it into their fleet equipped with the PW127XT engine, "marking the beginning of a new chapter in Taiwanese regional air travel." ATR says the new engines provide a "20% reduction in maintenance costs" and "at least 3% block fuel savings" over previous iterations installed in the ATR 72 family. The new PS127XTs can handle SAF blends much higher than older spec engines, as demonstrated by the ATR ferry flight from Toulouse, France to Taipei, Taiwan. The company fueled up Mandarin's new toy with a 30% SAF blend, but the model can handle blends all the way up to 50% SAF in regular operation.

Mandarin's fleet of 9 ATR 72-600s has proven stalwart in their service, allowing them to reinforce their position as a "key player in the Taiwanese market" according to company press. The carrier currently serves 8 destinations, including the "enchanting islands of Kinmen, Magong, and Matsu" with regional flights to (apparently less enchanting, since they remain unnamed) "various destinations across Asia and China".

FMI: www.atr-aircraft.com