WINGS AIR increases ATR 72-500 order to 15 aircraft
ATR and Indonesian carrier Wings Air – a subsidiary of Indonesia’s largest private carrier, Lion Air – today announced a contract for the purchase of 15 ATR 72-500s, with options for 15 ATR 72-600s. This order increases Wings previous commitment by five firm aircraft firm and five options. The total amount of the agreement, including options, is valued at some US $ 600 million.
These 72-seat aircraft will make Wings Air the launch customer for the ATR 72-500s in Indonesia and the largest ATR operator in the country. The aircraft, powered by PW 127M engines, are to be delivered between 2009 and 2011.
The entry into service of these aircraft will also enable Wings Air to consolidate its leading position in the rapidly developing domestic market in Indonesia, and to develop feeder routes to serve its mainline jet network. In addition, the new ATR fleet will provide new services to local communities that often were not benefitting from regular airline service in the past. The ATR 72-500s will also replace routes currently operated with MD 80 and B-737-300/400 and increase frequencies on existing routes operated with B737-900ER aircraft.
Rusdi Kirana, the Chairman of Wings Air and Chief Executive Officer of Lion Air, said: “We are pleased to further develop our partnership with ATR. The new fleet of will enable Wings Air to expand our domestic network in Indonesia with the most fuel efficient regional aircraft”. He added: “The dependable support organization of ATR in South East Asia, coupled with the success of their aircraft in our region, are two major factors in our decision to introduce them in Indonesia.” He concluded: “Thanks to the low operating and maintenance costs of the ATRs, we will be able to offer the best fares to our passengers”.
Wings Air will now become one of ATR’s largest clients in South East Asia, a region which has been particularly fruitful for ATR in recent years, where some 70 ATRs are being operated daily.
