Two regional airlines continue to add ATR turboprops to their fleet that will support growth in their respective countries. Gabon-based Afrijet will add a sixth ATR 72-600 and Oriental Air Bridge, based in Nagasaki and Fukuoka, Japan, ordered a third ATR 42-600 to replace its DHC-8-200.
The Gabonese airline initially operated ATR 42/72-500 and then switched to ATR 72-600 via leasing which allowed it to open new routes and increase frequencies. It currently operates to Libreville (LBV), Franceville (MVB) and Port-Gentil (POG) in Gabon; Bata (BSG) and Malabo (SSG) in Equatorial Guinea; Duoala (DLA) and Yaounde (NSI) in Cameroon; Cotonou (COO) in Benin; and Pointe Noire (PNR) in the Republic of Congo.
“Regional connectivity has a significant impact on local economies and community integration. In addition, the unique terrain in which Afrijet operates, comprising the Congo rainforest, the second largest rainforest in the world after the Amazon, is an even more powerful reason to select the most responsible aircraft on the market for such essential connections,” said Afrijet CEO Marc Gaffajoli.
For its part, Japanese regional airline, ORC (Oriental Air Bridge), signed an additional order for an ATR 42-600, completing three ATRs that will enable it to replace its DHC 8-200 connecting the Nagasaki and Fukuoka regions of southern Japan.
Also, ORC will benefit from optimized ATR support through the Global Maintenance Agreement (GMA) that helps reduce maintenance costs for operators and increases operations.
Currently, the company operates from Fukuoka (FUK) to Fukue (FUJ), Komatsu (KMQ), Miyazaki (KMI) and Tsushima (TSJ); also from Nagasaki (NGS) connects Iki (IKI), Fukue (FUJ) and Tsushima (TSJ).
“Our ATR aircraft will enable us to revitalize the remote islands around Nagasaki Prefecture by providing vital connections with high efficiency and reliable services thanks to our ATR Global Maintenance Agreement. We hope that many people will visit Japan and enjoy ORC’s trip to the remote island of Nagasaki, home to beautiful world heritages,” said Kazuhito Tanaka, Senior General Manager and Representative Director of ORC.
ATR CEO Stefano Bortoli emphasized that both companies play an important role in connecting their region, where their aircraft are suited to short routes and difficult access runways such as those operated by Afrijet and ORC, with a common purpose: to provide essential reliable and sustainable connections for communities and businesses in remote locations.
