Transportes Aéreos Guatemaltecos (TAG) Airlines received its first ATR 72-500 as part of its expansion plan. With an investment of US$17 million, the company will incorporate four ATR 72-500s that belonged to Jet Airways (MSN 918, 920, 928 and 932), under a leasing agreement via Willis Lease Finance. All turboprops have a 72-seat configuration.
The ATR 72-500 arrived on July 1 is the MSN 928 and will carry the Guatemalan registration TG-ATD. The aircraft received its new paint in Toulouse/Francazal, where it underwent pre-delivery maintenance, and then embarked on a two-day trip on June 29 with stopovers in Terceira in Portugal, St. John’s and Halifax in Canada, and Nassau in the Bahamas.
The entry of this aircraft will allow it to continue its growth in the domestic and regional market, together with its fleet of six Saab 340As, two Saab 340Bs (Plus), one Embraer ERJ 145 (LR), one Embraer 110, several Cessna 208s and helicopters.
Currently, its domestic offer consists of services from Guatemala City (GUA) to:
- Flores (FRS); 5 daily flights in ERJ 145 and Saab 340.
- Puerto Barrios (PBR); 12 weekly flights in Saab 340 and Cessna 208.
- Quetzaltenango (AAZ); six weekly flights in Cessna 208.
- Retalhuleu (RER); daily in Cessna 208.
Its regional network includes Belize, El Salvador, Honduras and Mexico, with this schedule:
- Belize (BZE); daily in Saab 340.
- Cancun (CUN), from Guatemala (GUA); daily in Saab 340.
- Cancun (CUN), from Flores (FRS); daily in Saab 340.
- Merida (MID), Mexico; four flights per week in Saab 340.
- San Pedro Sula (SUL), Honduras; six weekly flights in Saab 340.
- San Salvador (SAL), El Salvador; daily in Saab 340.
- Oaxaca (OAX), Mexico; three weekly flights in Saab 340.
- Tapachula (TAP), Mexico; two flights weekly in Saab 340.
- Tuxtla Gutierrez (TGZ), Mexico; four weekly flights in Saab 340.
