Danish aircraft lessor Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC) has signed a $500m contract to buy ten ATR 72-600s and two ATR 72-500s, with an option of an additional ten ATR 72-600s.

NAC and ATR had signed a heads of agreement document covering the ten ATR 72-600s and the options of ten additional aircraft at the Paris Air Show in June 2011.

NAC’s recently ordered two ATR 72-500s will bring the firm’s total fleet to 103.

Both the ATR 72-600 and 72-500 aircraft will be powered by Pratt & Whitney 127M engines.

ATR is scheduled to provide two ATR 72-500s to NAC at the end of 2011, and the company will start to deliver ATR 72-600s to NAC from 2012.