Bangkok Airways orders six ATR 72-500s
Toulouse, 28 September 2000
The French Italian consortium ATR today received a firm order for six new generation ATR 72-500s with an option for six more from the Thai airline Bangkok Airways. Deliveries of the aircraft are scheduled to begin in June 2001 throughout 2003.
These new ATR 72-500s will be put into service on the airline's domestic network as well as on new international routes into Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar. Bangkok Airways operates domestic and international scheduled services from Bangkok and Samui to Pattaya, Phuket, Ranong, Sukhothai, Chiang Mai, Singapore, Phnom Penh and Angkor Wat (Siem Reap), all of these being major tourist destinations in South East Asia.
Bangkok Airways started its ATR operations in 1994 and has an average dispatch reliability of over 99 %. The ATR utilisation in Bangkok Airways' fleet is of around 240 hours/month making it one of the highest amongst all ATR operators.
Bangkok Airways currently operates a fleet of 8 ATR 72-200/210s and 1 ATR 42-300.
"We are delighted to receive this new order from Bangkok Airways which shows the confidence of a major regional airline in our product", said Antoine Bouvier, Chief Executive Officer of ATR, "it is a clear proof that the ATR is particularly well adapted for short haul operations in South East Asia".
"The ATR has been a part of our fleet since 1994 and has played a vital role in the development of our success, commented Dr. Prasert, President of Bangkok Airways, "We have been very favourably impressed by the quality of the ATR new generation, particularly in terms of comfort."
Today 96 ATRs have been ordered by 17 operators in 14 countries in the Asia and Asia Pacific region. In order to facilitate customer support services to the regional operators in the area, ATR opened a dedicated support center in Singapore (in 1988) as well as a training center in Bangkok (in 1997).
The new generation -500 series (ATR 42-500 and ATR 72-500),powered by Pratt and Whitney Canada 127 engines, is equipped with new Hamilton Sundstrand/ Ratier Figeac 568F six-blade propellers of reduced diameter featuring low noise and vibration transmission to the passenger cabin. A four abreast cabin, increased carry-on volume, easy and quick passenger boarding, low fuel consumption and high cruise speed make the 500 series an effective economic tool for regional air transport.
Since the beginning of the programme ATR has sold 631 ATRs (365 ATR 42s and 266 ATR 72s) to 103 operators in more than 65 countries.
