atr 72-600

Thailand’s Bangkok Airways has signed a contract with European manufacturer ATR to acquire three additional ATR 72-600 turboprop aircraft.

Valued at roughly $24.6m for each aircraft, the contract follows after Bangkok Airways exercised options included in a deal agreed during Singapore Airshow earlier this year.

The original deal included six firm ATR 72-600s and two options, as well as one additional aircraft. The latest purchase will bring the airline’s total fleet of ATR 72-600s to nine.

ATR chief executive officer Patrick de Castelbajac said: "This deal achieved only a few months after having agreed with Bangkok Airways the introduction of their first ATR -600s, strongly consolidates our long-standing partnership. We are pleased to be associated to the growth and the expansion plans of one of the leading carriers in South East Asia.

"In order to further strengthen our commitment towards our operators in the region, we will also support the setting up of new training facilities for ATR -600s in Bangkok before the end of the year."

Of the total nine aircraft, the first unit will be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2014, while the last plane may join the airline’s fleet by the first quarter of 2017.

Powered by Pratt & Whitney 127M engines, the aircraft has a passenger capacity of up to 68 to 74 seats, and 900nm maximum flight range when fully loaded.

Image: The ATR 72-600 aircraft has a passenger capacity of up to 68 to 74 seats. Photo: courtesy of ATR.