ATR and Malaysia Airlines Sign MoU for 10 ATR 72-500s
Toulouse, 08 November 2007
 |
| ||||
 |
| ||||
ATR and Malaysia Airlines (MAS) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the purchase of a fleet of 10 ATR 72-500s and options for 5 additional aircraft. The agreement, valued at some 285 US $ million including options, has been inked in Toulouse by Stéphane Mayer, ATR CEO, and Tengku Azmil Zahruddin, Executive Director and Chief Finance Officer of Malaysia Airlines.
These ATR 72-500s, configured with 68-seats, will be operated by MASWings, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines to expand its services in the states of Sabah and Sarawak in East Malaysia. The aircraft will be equipped as well with state-of-the-art technological innovations in passenger comfort, communications and navigation aid tools. The airline will take delivery of the aircraft in 2009 and 2010.
In July this year, Malaysia Airlines already signed an MoU with ATR to acquire 10 ATR 72-500s with options for 10 additional aircraft for Firefly, another 'wholly-owned subsidiary.
"The new aircraft will enable MASWings to expand its capacity by 150%. This will allow MASWings to meet the future demand in air travel within Sabah and Sarawak, and connect more customers worldwide to the two states, which are ideal destinations for business and vacations", said Tengku Azmil Zahruddin. And added: "As such, MASWings will progressively add new frequencies in addition to expanding its services to more destinations in East Malaysia".
Stéphane Mayer declared: "We are delighted with this new proof of confidence of Malaysia Airlines in the ATR aircraft for the expansion of the regional operations of its subsidiaries". And added: "We are very happy with the consolidation of our partnership and with the introduction in the Malaysian routes of state-of-the-art and highly-comfortable aircraft".
MASWings commenced operations in East Malaysia on 1 October 2007 and currently operates 4 Fokker 50 and 4 Twin Otter aircraft.
Since the beginning of the year, ATR has received orders for 88 new aircraft, some of them not yet unveiled. Since the beginning of the programme, ATR has sold 925 aircraft (414 ATR 42s and 511 ATR 72s) and has delivered 745 (397 ATR 42s and 348 ATR 72s), thus posting a current backlog of 180 aircraft.
The 500 series ATRs:
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. Low fuel burn and gaseous emissions contribute to make the ATR environment friendly. 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.
About Malaysia Airlines
Malaysia Airlines, the national carrier of Malaysia, is recognized as one of Asia's largest, flying more than 48,000 passengers to some 100 destinations across 6 continents everyday. The airline holds a lengthy record of service and best practices excellence, having received more than 100 awards in the last 10 years. The most notable ones include being the first airline to win the "World's Best Cabin Crew" by Skytrax UK consecutively from 2001 until 2004, "5-star airline" in 2005 and 2006, as well as No.1 for "Economy Class Onboard Excellence 2006" also by Skytrax UK.
About ATR
Toulouse, Southern France-based regional aircraft manufacturer ATR is the world leader in the 50 to 74-seat turboprop market. ATR forecasts revenues of around US$1 Billion in 2007, representing two successive years of 30% increase in turnover. ATR is an equal partnership between Alenia Aeronautica (Finmeccanica group) and EADS. ATR is certified NF EN ISO 9001:2000 and AS 9100 revision B:2004 / JIS Q 9100:2004 / EN 9100:2003, the worldwide quality standard in the field of aeronautics.
Contact
| ATR Press Contact |
Tel.: +33 5 62 21 60 61 www.atr.fr mailto: presse@atr.fr |
