French-Italian aircraft manufacturer ATR has signed two agreements with Air Nostrum of Spain and Royal Air Maroc of Morocco to supply the latest-generation ATR 600 series aircraft.

Under the contract announced at this year’s Paris Air Show, Air Nostrum will make a purchase worth $425m for ten ATR 72-600s including options for ten additional aircraft.

The latest ATR 72-600 fleet will replace and upgrade Air Nostrum’s current fleet of 17 Bombardier Q-300s.

The companys other major contract is with Royal Air Maroc for the purchase of four ATR 72-600s and two ATR 42-600 aircraft, plus options for two additional ATR 72-600s.

Before the delivey of ATR 600 series aircraft, Royal Air Maroc will hire four ATR 72-200s from ATR, facilitating the launch of Royal Air Maroc Express, while the first ATR 72-200 has already been delivered.

The company will start to deliver these ATR 600 series aircraft to both airlines in 2011.

This series of ATR 72-600s and ATR 42-600s designed with 70 and 48 seats respectively will be furnished with a new avionics suite featuring advanced navigation tools.