Malaysia Airlines signs up for 35 ATR 72s

ATR has signed a contract and memorandum of understanding with Malaysia Airlines (MAS) for a total of 20 ATR 72-500s. The contract includes an order for 10 ATRs, along with options for an additional 10 that will be operated by MAS subsidiary Firefly. The MoU also calls for the purchase of 10 ATRs, along with options for five more to be operated by MAS subsidiary MASwings.

ATR has valued the deal at $650 million, including options for both Firefly and MASwings.

ATR will deliver the first of the aircraft to Firefly in 2008, while deliveries of the MASwings order will begin in 2009.

The Firefly aircraft will be configured as a 72-seater and will be used to expand the carrier's network as it builds hubs in Kuala Lumpur (Subang), Penang, Johor Bahru and Kota Kinabalu. The aircraft will replace the carrier's fleet of Fokker 50 aircraft.

The 68-seat MASwings aircraft will expand the carrier's services to the states of Sabah and Sarawak, which are tourist destinations in East Malaysia.

ATR's Asian market continues to grow, with more than 20 carriers operating 120 ATR aircraft in the region. The company currently holds a order backlog from Asian carriers of around 100 aircraft, which is more than half of ATR's total backlog.

These orders, however, are ATR's first in Malaysia, the company said.

ATR says that it has so far sold 88 ATR aircraft since the beginning of the year and a total of 925 aircraft (416 ATR 42s and 509 ATR 72s) over the life of the programme. Of these, ATR has delivered 746 aircraft.