New regional airline, Silk Avia, has signed a Heads of Agreement (HOA) with ATR for the acquisition of five new ATR 72-600 aircraft. Three of these will come from ATR directly, whilst two will be delivered via a lessor.
The airline is expected to begin operations soon with three used ATR 72-600 aircraft already in its possession.
Silk Avia and ATR also announced the signing of a five-year Global Maintenance Agreement. This pay-by-the-hour contract will allow the Uzbek regional airline to take full advantage of ATR’s expertise to support its ATR aircraft, reducing maintenance costs and boosting operations.
ATR Chief Executive Officer Nathalie Tarnaud Laude comments: “There is no better solution to provide essential links than an ATR 72-600, the sustainable benchmark in regional aviation today. In a fast-growing country such as Uzbekistan, Silk Avia will play a key role by offering vital links for local communities and boosting the economy.
“We warmly welcome Silk Avia as one of our newest customers, opening a new market for ATR in Central Asia.”
Rano Dzhuraeva, Chair of Uzbekistan Airports, says: “We are excited to be soon launching our operations with an all-ATR fleet. As a new low-cost airline, we undertook an extensive review of which aircraft would provide the best solution. Our selection of the ATR 72-600 is the perfect choice for us as they will ensure we can offer our passengers the most modern, comfortable and reliable experience in the most affordable and sustainable way.”
