Aircraft lessor Avation has inked an agreement with ATR for the purchase of five additional ATR72 turboprops.
This latest contract means the lessor now has 13 ATR72s on firm order. The agreement includes an option for another eight aircraft.
These turboprops will join the fleet that is already on a 10-year wet-lease to Australian carrier Skywest Airlines, as part of the Australian Regional Airline Network agreement with Virgin Australia, said Avation.
It added that it has achieved price protection on these new aircraft.
"This new agreement provides a potential delivery stream of aircraft for the next four years. Avation has entered discussions with respect to financing the acquisition costs of these aircraft," said Avation chairman Jeff Chatfield.
Skywest last month took delivery of its fourth 72-500 aircraft from the lessor, which is in the process of supplying up to 18 ATR aircraft to Skywest for Virgin Australia.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
