Wings Air

Indonesia-based Lion Group has taken delivery of the 50th ATR 72-600 aircraft as part of its previously announced order for 100 models.

The airline plans to operate the new ATR 72-600 through its regional subsidiary, Wings Air that owns a fleet of 40 ATR aircraft in Indonesia.

Lion expects to receive the remaining 50 ATR 72-600s by 2019.

Lion Group chairman Edward Sirait said: "This is an important milestone for Wings and the Lion Group, as we pioneered the Indonesia remote provinces feeder market with our first ATR 72s only six years ago and now are looking at the 50th ATR 72 and soon 100th for Lion Group and Indonesia.

"The new-generation ATRs have been very successful for us, and this is reflected in the strong customer interest wherever we have deployed the aircraft."

"We pioneered the Indonesia remote provinces feeder market with our first ATR 72s only six years ago and now are looking at the 50th."

Lion Group finalised a $1bn purchase deal last year for an additional 40 ATR turboprops, to meet the increasing demand within the group’s existing operators’ networks over the next five years.

ATR chief executive Patrick de Castelbajac said: "Today, more than 50 ATR 72s are in operation connecting communities and villages across Indonesia."

According to the company, the Asia-Pacific region represents 30% of its orders recorded to date.

Around 350 ATR aircraft are in service with more than 50 operators across the region, and a further 112 ATRs are on order with customers, representing around 45% of the company’s total backlog.

Image: The new ATR 72-600 aircraft. Photo: courtesy of ATR.