ATR and Islas Airways add option for 2 ATR 72-500s

On the occasion of the Paris Airshow, ATR and Canary Islands-based Islas Airways today unveiled an option for 2 ATR 72-500s, additionally to the purchase of 6 ATR 72-500 already agreed last March. Stéphane Mayer, who on 1st June succeeded Filippo Bagnato as ATR CEO, and Miguel Concepción Cáceres, Islas Airways CEOs respectively, today inked the deal in Le Bourget.

The aircraft will be configured with 70 seats and will be equipped with the new “Elegance Cabin”, Light Emitting Diode (LED) and with the newest technological innovations in the field of communications and navigation aid tools. Deliveries will start this year and will continue through 2009.

Islas Airways has decided to renew its fleet with new generation ATRs in order to benefit from the many advantages of these aircraft and provide better capacity and frequency in the main routes within the islands of the archipelago.

Stéphane Mayer stated: “This additional option strengths the links we have established with Islas Airways and confirms their confidence in our new-generation aircraft for the updating of the fleet. By the increasing presence of our “-500 series” aircraft in Canarian fleets, we are contributing to the sustainable development in the archipelago. This is a major commitment for ATR, the green player of the regional market.”

Miguel Concepción Cáceres declared: “The ATR aircraft are the optimal choice for the interisland operations, and have proven themselves for years in the Canary Islands. This high reputation, related, among others, to their comfort, efficiency and reliability are key factors in our decision of purchasing these aircraft and adding option for additional new aircraft. We believe in ATR and in a long and successful partnership between us.”

Since the beginning of the year, ATR has received orders for 53 new aircraft, some of them not yet unveiled. Since the beginning of the programme, ATR has sold 890 aircraft (416 ATR 42s and 474 ATR 72s) and has delivered 727 (393 ATR 42s and 334 ATR 72s), thus posting a current backlog of 163 aircraft.

With its ATR 42-500 and ATR 72-500, ATR supplies state-of-the-art aircraft with jet-like 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.

Islas Airways was founded in Tenerife in 2001 and started its operations in 2003 with two leased ATR 72-200s. Today, the airline operates 4 ATR 72-200s and 1 ATR 42-300. Islas Airways transports more than 520,000 passengers per year in some 17,000 flights, and posted gross revenues of around € 28 million in 2006. Since 2005, the airline is controlled by SOAC Group, a Canary Island holding whose business range includes ground handling and airport services.

Toulouse, Southern France-based regional aircraft manufacturer ATR is the world leader in the 50 to 74-seat turboprop market. In 2006, ATR posted a turnover of US $ 700 million, an increase of 30% compared to 2005. 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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