Aurigny Air Services Takes Delivery of its First ATR 72-500

Guernsey-based carrier Aurigny Air Services today took delivery of its first new ATR 72-500, in accordance with a deal for two ATR 72-500s inked in summer 2007 and valued at some US $ 37 million. With its new ATR 72-500s, configured with 72-seats and equipped with the “Elegance Cabin”, Aurigny Air Services will replace two out of its current three ATR 72-200s.

Commenting on this first ATR 72-500, Malcolm Hart, Managing Director of Aurigny Air Services, quoted: “We are pleased to take delivery of our first ATR 72-500, and launch the modernization of our turboprop fleet with aircraft featuring the lowest operating costs and the most reduced environmental footprint of the regional aviation. With its very low CO2 and noise emissions, the ATRs have proven themselves as a very ‘good neighbour’. We are really satisfied with the high degree of performance of our ATR aircraft since we started operating them in 2003. Now it is time to go one step forward, providing to our passengers new aircraft which have the highest standards of comfort available today.”

Stéphane Mayer, ATR CEO, underlined “that ATR is honored by the confidence that Aurigny Air Services has shown in the ATR family of aircraft for the development of their network from and to the Channel Islands. The ATR aircraft are optimally adapted to the type of routes operated by Aurigny Air Services. Now, the airline will introduce into its fleet the many advantages of the ‘-500 series’, mainly in terms of higher performance, better comfort and lower operating costs.” He added: “We are also delighted to contribute to the preservation of the environment of the Channel Islands with aircraft that feature the lowest fuel burn of the regional aviation market”.

Since the beginning of the programme, ATR has sold 979 aircraft (420 ATR 42s and 559 ATR 72s).

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) regulations. 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.

Aurigny is based in Guernsey, the second largest of the Channel Islands. It operates daily flights to London Gatwick, London Stansted, Manchester, Bristol, Southampton, Alderney, Jersey and Dinard. On the 1st of May 2009 Aurigny will introduce new daily services between Guernsey and East Midlands, and between Jersey and London Stansted, as well as a fifth daily service between Guernsey and London Gatwick. The word 'Aurigny' comes from the Norman-French name for the island of Alderney where the airline started operations in 1968. Aurigny flew 45,000 passengers in its first year and has flown nearly 10 million passengers since. The airline celebrated its 40th birthday in 2008, becoming one of longest-running regional operators in the world.

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. In 2008, ATR posted an annual turnover record, with US $ 1.3 billion.

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