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Vietnam Airlines accelerates fleet renewal with purchase of 6 ATR 72-500s

Written by thomas · Filed Under Commercial 

December 15, 2008

thomas

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Vietnam Airlines and ATR today inked a contract for the purchase of 6 new ATR 72-500s, valued at over US$ 112 million. With these additional aircraft, and including the aircraft already on order, Vietnam’s flag carrier will expand its fleet of ATR 72-500s up to 14 aircraft by 2010.

Vietnam Airlines started operating ATR aircraft in 1992, and booked previous orders for ‘-500 series’ in 2001 and 2007. Once all the 72-500s are delivered, the modernization of its current ATR fleet, which today counts 7 ATR 72-200s and 3 ATR 72-500s, will be complete.

The airline will take delivery of their 11 ATR 72-500s currently on order between 2009 and 2010, thus standardizing its ATR fleet with the ‘-500 series’. The aircraft will be powered by PW 127M engines and will feature the latest navigation aid and communication tools. The aircraft will also be equipped with the “Elegance” cabin.

Commenting on the deal, Pham Ngoc Minh, President and CEO of Vietnam Airlines, declared: “Thanks to the substantial growth of Vietnam’s domestic and within-Indochina aviation markets, the demand for aviation transport services from big cities Hanoi, Danang and Ho Chi Minh city to such tourist destinations as Nha Trang, Dalat, Phu Quoc, Siem Reap, Phnom Penh and Luang Prabang is accelerating rapidly. We strongly believe that with today’s purchase deal of 6 further ATR 72-500s, we will satisfy the increasing demand for services on short-haul routes, thus contribute to the promotion of tourism – investment – trade relations among regions and between Vietnam and its neighbouring Indochina countries.”

Stéphane Mayer, ATR CEO, underlined the importance of “having such a prestigious and renowned airline in Asia operating ATRs. The success of the regional operations of Vietnam Airlines plays an important role in the expansion of the ATR aircraft fleet in South-East Asia. We are proud of enlarging our partnership with Vietnam Airlines and to be able to provide them with our strong support for the expansion of their ‘500 series’ fleet.” He added: “We have recently increased our support facilities in Asia in order to build upon the already achieved success and the developing commercial potential for ATR in the region and to ensure the highest level of assistance to our customers.” And he concluded: “We are honoured with the renewal of Vietnam Airlines’ confidence.”

Since the beginning of the programme, ATR has sold 974 aircraft (419 ATR 42s and 555 ATR 72s) and has delivered 802 (401 ATR 42s and 401 ATR 72s), thus posting a current backlog of 172 aircraft.

The ATR –500 series:
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. 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 ‘-500 series’ feature the lowest fuel consumption per passenger and CO2 emissions of the regional aviation, thus contributing to make ATR the “Green Player” of the regional aviation.

About Vietnam Airlines
Founded in 1956 as Vietnam Civil Aviation and established in 1993 as the national flag carrier under its current name, Vietnam Airlines has tapped great potentials for growth over the last fifteen years. The airline currently operates a young fleet of 50 modern aircraft and plans to expand its fleet to 104 and 150 aircraft by 2015 and 2020, respectively. As for the network, Vietnam Airlines is now flying to 19 domestic cities throughout Vietnam and 23 international destinations. The airline has set itself the target of serving 11 million passengers by 2010 throughout a strategically developed network of long haul flights and local and regional connections.

About ATR
Toulouse, Southern France-based regional aircraft manufacturer ATR is the world leader in the 50 to 74-seat turboprop market. ATR is an equal partnership between Alenia Aeronautica (a Finmeccanica company) and EADS.

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