Air Mauritius acquires 1 ATR 72-500
Athens/Toulouse, 11 October 2001
The European consortium ATR (Avions de Transport Régional), with headquarters in Toulouse (France), and the airline Air Mauritius, with headquarters in Port Louis (Mauritius), have signed a letter of intent for the acquisition of 1 new generation ATR 72-500 to replace the existing ATR 42-300 in the airline's fleet. The delivery of this aircraft is scheduled for June 2002.
The new generation ATR 72-500 will be put into service on the inter-island route network in order to adapt the airline's offer to an increase in traffic demand.
"We selected the new generation ATR 72-500 for its excellent level of economics" said Vinod K. Chidambaram, Managing Director Air Mauritius, "whilst the high level of communality between the ATR 42-500 and ATR 72-500 was another determining factor in our choice".
Jean-Michel Léonard, Chief Executive Officer ATR, stated "Air Mauritius and ATR have been partners in regional air transport since the first delivery in 1986. We are extremely proud with this new contract and we are confident that the ATR 72-500 will enable the development they are looking for."
Air Mauritius was the launch customer for the ATR 42-300 in the Africa and Indian Ocean region in 1984 and for the ATR 42-500 in 1997. The airline currently operates a fleet of 5 A340s, 2 B767s, 2 ATR 42-500s and 1 ATR 42-300.
Air Mauritius was founded in 1967 as the national airline of the Republic of Mauritius. Today the airline operates to 30 destinations with 95 departures from Mauritius per week.
In the Africa and Indian Ocean region a total of 61 ATRs have been ordered by 17 companies. Worldwide ATR has sold 659 ATRs of which 370 ATR 42s and 289 ATR 72s.
Press Contact ATR:
Phone : 33 (0)5 62 21 63 22
Fax : 33 (0)5 62 21 63 18
E-mail : ann.decrozals@atr.fr
