Planes Going To Canary Islands

Regional aircraft manufacturer ATR announced Friday the sale of four new ATR 72-500s that will be operated by NAYSA, a regional operator based in the Canary Islands.

The announcement was made at the European Regions Airlines Association annual meeting, currently underway in Barcelona, Spain. The total value of the contract is estimated at $71 million.

The four new ATR aircraft will be delivered between 2008 and 2009, and will be equipped with ATR's "Elegance Cabin" option, as well as the newest technological innovations in the field of communications and navigation aid tools.

"We are really pleased to add a new costumer to our large base of 125 operators around the world," said ATR CEO Filippo Bagnato. "The ATR 72-500 has been very successful for many years in the Canary Islands and will be used for interisland shuttle operations. With this sale, ATR has logged 56 sales since the beginning of the year."

"2006 is confirming the strong market for turboprop aircraft," Bagnato added.

NAYSA currently operates Beech 1900 aircraft. NAYSA will use the new ATRs to develop its already existing commercial agreement with Binter Canarias on some interisland connexions.

From the beginning of the year, ATR has received orders for 56 new aircraft... some of them not yet revealed. Since the beginning of the program, ATR has sold 834 aircraft (401 ATR 42s and 433 ATR 72s).

FMI: www.atraircraft.com