Lao Airlines Signs For One ATR 72-500

On the occasion of the Singapore Airshow, ATR and Lao Airlines –the flag carrier of Laos- today unveiled the purchase of a new ATR 72-500. This aircraft is the first ‘-500 series’ ATR for the airline, which already operates two ATR 72-200.

This new 70-seat ATR will be equipped with the “Elegance” cabin, new PW 127M engines and Light Emitting Diode (LED). The aircraft will be also equipped with state-of-the-art technological innovations in passenger comfort, communications and navigation aid tools. The aircraft will be delivered in 2009.

Commenting on the deal, Dr. Somphone Douangdara, Lao Airlines CEO, declared: “Following the success of the operations with our two first ATRs, we are pleased to augment our fleet with the well known advantages of the ‘-500’ ATRs, such as enhanced comfort and the lowest operating cost per seat. With our brand new aircraft we will increase the total capacity of our fleet, in order to face the development of our network and the launch new routes”. And he concluded: “The ease of maintenance of the ATRs is also an important point in our decision to add another ATR 72 to our fleet.”

Stéphane Mayer, ATR CEO, underlined “the success of the ATR aircraft in the South East Asia, reinforced in the last months with important sales in Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand, and now Laos”. He added: “In the last 3 years, we have signed more than 100 firm orders with Asian companies. The reliability and the performance of our aircraft, coupled with our strong support facilities, are well known by our customers in Asia”. And concluded: “We are very pleased that, for the expansion of its network, Lao Airlines confirmed its confidence in the ATR family of aircraft”.

ATR reached in 2007 a record year with orders for 113 new aircraft. Since the beginning of the programme, ATR has sold 953 aircraft (417 ATR 42s and 536 ATR 72s) and has delivered 757 (397 ATR 42s and 360 ATR 72s), thus posting a current backlog of 196 aircraft.

With its ATR 42-500 and ATR 72-500, ATR supplies state-of-the-art aircraft with the highest standards of comfort. The advanced six-blade propeller provides remarkably low noise levels. Low fuel burn and gaseous emissions contribute to make the ATR environment friendly. 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 airline, based in Vientiane, was established and started operations in September 1976 as Lao Aviation. The name was changed to Lao Airlines in early 2003. It is wholly owned by the Government of Laos and operates domestic services to ten destinations and international services to Cambodia, China, Thailand and Vietnam.

Toulouse, Southern France-based regional aircraft manufacturer ATR is the world leader in the 50 to 74-seat turboprop market. In 2007 ATR posted a turnover of 1.1 US$ billion, an increase of 57% compared to 2006. ATR is an equal partnership between Alenia Aeronautica (Finmeccanica group) and EADS. ATR is certified NF EN ISO 9001:2000 and AS 9100 revision B:2004 / JIS Q 9100:2004 / EN 9100:2003, the worldwide quality standard in the field of aeronautics.

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