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Lao Airlines Introduces ATR 72-500s into fleet

Written by thomas · Filed Under Commercial 

June 16, 2009

thomas

Lao Airlines, the national flag carrier of Laos, is about to introduce ATR ‘-500 series’ aircraft into its fleet with the delivery, in the coming weeks, of its first ATR 72-500. The aircraft, configured with 70 seats, equipped with the ATR’s Elegance Cabin and powered by PW 127M engines, will join the current fleet of 2 ATR 72-200s of the airline. Their second ATR 72-500 on order will be delivered later this year.

With the delivery of these two ATR ‘-500 series’ aircraft, Lao Airlines, which operates ATRs since 1994, will expand its domestic and regional network, while increasing its total fleet capacity, with aircraft reputed by their very low operating and maintenance costs and their very high standards of passenger comfort. Both ATR 72-500s are also equipped with a VIP kit, and will also be used for VIP flights for both the national government and for foreign VIP delegations.

Commenting on this first delivery, Somphone Douangdara, Lao Airlines CEO, underlined the “long term cooperation and excellent relationship with ATR. We have been operating ATRs for 15 years and we are very satisfied with their unbeatable performance both in reliability and in economics. We are pleased to further expand our partnership, and we are convinced the ATRs are definitely the right choice to respond to the demand of regional transportation in Laos and in South East Asia, especially if the take into account the expected fuel cost increase in the next years.” He added: “Thanks to the low operating costs of the ATRs, we are proud of being able to propose very interesting fares to our passengers.” He concluded: “The further increase of our total ATR aircraft fleet is for us an important national project.”

Stéphane Mayer, ATR CEO, declared: “With the entry into service of their first ATR 72-500, Lao Airlines will benefit from the many advantages of the ‘-500 series’ aircraft, mainly in terms of reduced seat-mile operating costs, enhanced comfort or even the substantial reductions in noise and vibration. We are glad of introducing for the first time an ATR ‘-500’ in Laos, and to further increase our strong presence in South East Asia. We count already some 70 aircraft operating in this region, a huge market where the ATRs, because of their flexibility, and their ability to operate at the lowest costs, in short runways, are perfectly adapted to the needs of the regional operators. We are also glad to count with Lao Airlines as new customer for our ‘VIP kit’.”

Since the beginning of the programme, ATR has sold 998 aircraft (424 ATR 42s and 574 ATR 72s).

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