Silver Airways is set to receive eight new ATR 42-600s between now and the end of 2018 after taking delivery of its first one this week.
Subject to regulatory approval, it will begin operating the turboprops later this year, while it also plans to start operating the larger 72-600 in 2019. Silver has another 12 of its initial order of 20 aircraft to be delivered in 2019 and 2020.
ATR has been displaying the airline’s new livery, a bold flamingo pink, at Farnborough Airshow all this week as it heralds what will be its first North American customer for the new ATR-600 series aircraft. The delivery of the aircraft marks the first time an ATR-600 has been handed over to a US carrier and also the first time a US independent regional airline has taken delivery of a new aircraft type in decades.
Silver Airways says the new 46-seat aircraft will allow it to expand its service on shorter-haul routes from small to mid-size cities in domestic and nearby international markets. The new fleet will allow it to expand services for passengers on existing routes in Florida, the Bahamas and New England, and recently announced routes in Texas, Louisiana, Missouri, Alabama and beyond.
The airline recently acquired independent US regional carrier Seaborne Airlines and upon expected completion of the merger next year, Silver plans to utilise ATR-600 series aircraft from Seaborne’s gateways in San Juan, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands to destinations throughout the Caribbean.
The ATRs replace 27 34-seat Saab 340B aircraft operated by Silver and Seaborne. The 20 new ATRs are being leased from Nordic Aviation Capital, and could see up to 50 ATR-600 series aircraft delivered. The order includes the option to upgauge certain deliveries to the larger 72-600s.
Silver’s ATR fleet will be configured in a 2-2 seating configuration with up to a 32-inch pitch. The airline operates from hubs in Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Tampa.
Earlier this week ATR also hit a milestone with the delivery of its 1,000th ATR 72. The aircraft was in the colours of Indian domestic carrier IndiGo.
Written by: Mark Thomas
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