Casablanca, Morocco’s flag carrier Royal Air Maroc and ATR today announced an order for 2 ATR 42-600s and 4 ATR 72-600s, plus options for 2 additional ATR 72-600. The aircraft will be operated by Royal Air Maroc Express, the new regional subsidiary of the airline, which will be launched in summer 2009 and which has been created in cooperation with the Moroccan Public Authorities.

The deal has been unveiled on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the opening of the route Toulouse-Casablanca by Aéropostale, the French Air Post Service.

These ATR 42-600s and ATR 72-600s, configured with 48 and 70-seats respectively, will be equipped with a new avionics suite featuring the most advanced technologies in navigation aid and communication tools. The aircraft will also be equipped with an enhanced cabin in order to offer higher comfort to the passengers. Deliveries of the new aircraft will start in spring 2011. Meanwhile, ATR will lease 4 ATR 72-200s to Royal Air Maroc in order to support the launch of the new subsidiary carrier.

Commenting on this deal, Driss Benhima, President of Royal Air Maroc, declared: “We decided to launch a call for tender for new turboprop aircraft and according to the results of our technical, economical and exploitation studies, the ATR ‘-600 series’ have proved to be the right choice. We are proud of launching our new regional subsidiary, Royal Air Maroc Express, which will count with the support of the Public Authorities in order to provide the country with development tools. The airline will also provide new air connectivity to the regions, enabling them to reinforce their appeal and helping them to promote inland tourism. The launch of this new airline also focuses on the ability to offer our fellow citizens new aircraft with appropriate timetables and frequencies, thus contributing to create new development dynamics within our domestic aviation market.” He added: “We are very proud of being the first carrier in the Mediterranean region to introduce the new ATR ‘-600 series’ in our fleet and to be able to offer our passengers aircraft featuring the most advanced technologies, both in comfort and performance. The ATR ‘-600 series’, which features the lowest CO2 emissions per passenger, is the ‘greenliner’ aircraft of the regional aviation, and will allow us to contribute to the respect of the environment.”

“We are delighted of the confidence that Royal Air Maroc has put into the ATR ‘-600 series’ aircraft when launching their new regional subsidiary” said Stéphane Mayer, ATR CEO. “The ATR ‘600s’, with their improved performances, especially in hot and high conditions, will provide a strong support to the airline when developing its regional network. With their very low fuel consuming and unbeatable operating costs, the newest generation of ATRs will allow Royal Air Maroc to get an optimal profitability, while contributing to a sustainable development.” He also declared: “We are proud of associating the ATR ‘-600s’ to one of the most important and respected carriers of Africa, reputed for its excellence and its very high quality service.”

Since the beginning of the programme, ATR has sold 985 aircraft (422 ATR 42s and 563 ATR 72s).

Source: Press Release (ATR)