3 Additional ATR Aircraft for Finncomm Airlines

Finncomm Airlines is ordering additional ATR aircraft, 3 ATR 72-500. This was announced today at Farnborough Air Show on the occasion of a joint press briefing between Juhani Pakari, Managing Director of Finncomm Airlines and Filippo Bagnato, CEO of ATR.

This order is the first conversion of 3 options to a firm order announced at Paris Air Show 2005. In June 2005, Finncomm Airlines placed a firm order for 8 ATR 42-500 aircraft plus an option for 8 ATR-500 Series.

The value of this contract is around $54 million list price and deliveries are scheduled between 2008 and 2009.

Equipped with the new “Elegance” cabin, the 3 ATR 72-500s will be fitted with the newest technological innovations in the field of communications and navigation aid tools.


Juhani Pakari declared: "After the entry into service of the first two ATR 42-500 in our fleet both passengers feedback and outstanding dispatch reliability - nearly 100% - confirmed Finncomm and its partners that the -500 series is definitively the right choice; Finncomm has thus decided to confirm the first three options as 72-500 increasing the firm orders from 8 to 11 aircraft. Also passenger figures increase has allowed Finncomm to convert ATR 42-500 in ATR 72-500 starting from 2007 deliveries. As of today Finncomm projected fleet of ATRs will be composed by 4 42-500 and 7 ATR72-500, but we still have 5 more options to confirm if our market will ask for it."

Filippo Bagnato stated: “I am delighted of this new mark of confidence from Finncomm Airlines. We are also pleased to see how passengers of the North of Europe are getting used to the –500 generation comfort and reliability ”.

He added “2006 is confirming the recovery of the turboprop market and the success of ATR aircraft. Since first of January this year, we received orders for 50 new aircraft. Since January 2005, we received cumulated orders for 140 new aircraft”.

Since the beginning of the programme, ATR has sold 811 aircraft (399 ATR 42s and 412 ATR 72s).

The ATR 72-500 is the latest development of the ATR 72 with a proven average dispatch reliability of more than 99.6%. This version shares the same power-plant, six-bladed propellers, the same interior design and soundproofing techniques of the ATR 42-500, thus offering the same excellent comfort and passenger appeal. Its standard capacity is of 68 seats. The ATR 72-500 has the lowest seat mile costs, recognised as a benchmark for the regional market. The increased power and aerodynamic refinements provide excellent take-off and landing performance.
The maximum take-off weight (MTOW) was increased by 300 kg, from 22,500 to 22,800 kg, end of 2004.
All ATR models are compliant with noise regulations and have a large margin with regard to Chapter IV (ICAO) noise regulations, effective 1st January 2006. The advanced six-blade propeller provides remarkably low outside noise levels. Low fuel burn and gaseous emissions contribute to make the ATR environment friendly.

Founded in 1993, Finncomm Airlines is headquartered in Seinajoki, western Finland, with operational base at Helsinki, and is a partner company of Finnish national air carrier Finnair. The domestic flight schedules have been so planned as to provide suitable connections to Finnair’s further international flights. The two carriers have been co-operating since 1998, when Finncomm Airlines started to feed Finnair domestic operations thanks to the operational support of Golden Air’s Saab 340 aircraft.

Currently Fincomm Airlines operates two Embraer ERJ-145 jet aircraft under codeshare with Finnair from Helsinki to Stuttgart, Düsseldorf and Oslo.

Currently Finncomm Airlines serves all Golden Air’s Finnish domestic flights from 11 towns to Helsinki and provides the Swedish airline with staff, flight planning, operation control

Toulouse, Southern France-based regional aircraft manufacturer ATR is the world leader in the 50 to 70-seat turboprop market. In 2005, ATR posted a turnover of $542 million, an increase of 15% compared to 2004. ATR is an equal partnership between Alenia Aeronautica (Finmeccanica group) and EADS. ATR is certified ANSI/ISO/ASQ Q 9001/2000 and EN/AS/JISQ 9100, the worldwide quality standard in the field of aeronautics.

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