Mandarin Airlines, the regional subsidiary of Taiwan’s flag carrier, China Airlines, is to buy an additional ATR 72-600 aircraft after the airline placed an order for six of the regional turboprops at the 2023 Paris Air Show last year.
The new aircraft is scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2026, and its arrival will bring the airline’s ATR 72-600 fleet to 13.
Mandarin Airlines primarily operates from Taiwan’s Taipei Songshan Airport, providing services to eight destinations across the island, including Kinmen, Penghu, and Matsu.
The airline said the ATR 72-600’s fuel efficiency, low operating costs, and reliability were key factors in its decision to expand its fleet.
“The addition of this new ATR 72-600 underscores our confidence in ATR as the preferred platform to serve the island’s domestic markets responsibly,” said Kao Shing-Hwang, Chairman of Mandarin Airlines. “The turboprop’s exceptional fuel efficiency, low operating costs and reliability make it the perfect choice to strengthen our current routes and explore new services to further stimulate the local economy and tourism sector across Taiwan.”
Nathalie Tarnaud Laude, Chief Executive Officer of ATR, said: “Mandarin Airlines has been consistently unlocking new opportunities for the Taiwanese communities in a responsible and cost-effective manner over the past seven years. We are grateful for their continued trust in ATR’s capabilities.”
Photo: ATR
A Mandarin Airlines ATR 72-600.
