Caribbean Airlines Orders 9 ATR 72-600s

European Turboprop manufacturer ATR and Trinidad and Tobago’s Caribbean Airlines have signed an agreement for the purchase of 9 ATR 72-600 aircraft.

With this US$ 200 million order, Caribbean Airlines will become a new ATR operator. The aircraft are configured with 68 seats and equipped with the new ATR -600 series avionics suite and with the new Armonia Cabin. Deliveries are scheduled to start in late 2011.

With its fleet of brand new ATR 72-600s, this flag carrier will replace its current fleet of 5 Dash-8 300 aircraft, while adding new frequencies linking Trinidad and Tobago and surrounding destinations. In addition, several of the new ATRs will be operated in the route network of Air Jamaica, which was recently acquired by Caribbean Airlines.

 Commenting on the deal, Captain Ian Brunton, Chief Executive Officer of Caribbean Airlines, said, “The acquisition of the ATR 72-600s will allow Caribbean Airlines to continue to develop and improve the offering to our customers. The low operating costs and fuel consumption of the aircraft are particularly appealing and provide us with tremendous flexibility in adding frequencies and developing new markets in the regional sectors.”

Caribbean Airlines began operations on 1 January 2007 and currently serves 13 markets in the Caribbean, South America and North America, operating a core schedule of 530 weekly departures with a fleet of 13 aircraft.

Caribbean Airlines recently acquired Air Jamaica and has embarked on realizing its vision of “one Caribbean Airline”. The Air Jamaica operation of Caribbean Airlines presently serves 4 destinations in the USA and Canada as well as Grenada and the Bahamas with a fleet of 6 aircraft.

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