Azerbaijan’s AZAL Takes Delivery of its First ATR 42-500
Toulouse, 24 August 2007
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Baku-based National Air Company Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL), flag carrier of Azerbaijan, today took delivery of its first ATR 42-500. The aircraft is the first to be delivered following the signature, last January, of a $ 100 million-valued contract for the acquisition of 6 new ATR aircraft (2 ATR 42-500s and 4 ATR 72-500s).
Today’s delivered aircraft is the first ATR to be operated by the carrier, which later this year will take delivery of its first ATR 72-500. The airline will complete next year its fleet of new generation ATRs.
Jahangir Askerov, General Director of AZAL, declared: “I am pleased to take delivery of our first new generation ATR, the most modern and efficient aircraft of the regional market. AZAL is starting a new era of network expansion with reliable aircraft that have the lowest operating costs and CO2 emissions. In addition, with our new ATRs we will offer the highest standards of comfort to our passengers both in our current and new routes”.
Stéphane Mayer, ATR CEO, stated: “The introduction of the new ATR fleet of AZAL represents a very important step in order to consolidate the expansion of our “-500 series” aircraft across the regional routes in Eastern Europe. This is a very big market with high commercial perspectives for us”. He added: “Our current and future commercial success in the region is related to our ability to offer the highest standards of performance and comfort to the airlines aiming to upgrade and renew their fleets”.
Since the beginning of the year, ATR has received orders for 77 new aircraft, some of them not yet unveiled. Since the beginning of the programme, ATR has sold 914 aircraft (414 ATR 42s and 500 ATR 72s) and has delivered 735 (395 ATR 42s and 340 ATR 72s), thus posting a current backlog of 179 aircraft.
The –500 series: New Generation 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.
About AZAL
Before Azerbaijan Republic’s independence in 1991, AZAL was a part of Aeroflot, and was operating regional and domestic flights within the Soviet Union, with Aeroflot having exclusive rights to operate on international routes. Now, AZAL, as national carrier, is proud to offer a high level of services and hospitality to their customers on domestic, regional and international routes meeting the standards and recommendations of ICAO and IATA. Since 2000, AZAL fleet has been considerably reinforced by Boeing and since 2005 by Airbus aircraft. In particular, 4 A319s have been recently introduced in the AZAL Fleet.
About ATR
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.
Press Contact ATR
| Frédéric Lahache |
Tel.: 33 5 62 21 60 61 Fax: 33 5 62 21 68 00 www.atr.fr mailto: frederic.lahache@atr.fr |
