Uzbekistan-based regional carrier Silk Avia has become the latest ATR customer. Both companies have signed Heads of Agreement for the acquisition of five new ATR 72-600 aircraft, three from ATR and two purchased by lessors.
We’re excited to announce the addition of ATR Uzbekistan
Startup Silk Avia plans to acquire five ATR 72-600 aircraft and has already signed a new agreement with Airbus SAS to make that happen. These planes are some of the newest in the industry, and will be used to complement Silk’s operations which already includes three used ATR 72-600s from previous purchases.
Silk Avia is starting a new regional airline. The company will launch flights from Samarkand International Airport, which is managed by Uzbekistan Airports JSC. Chair of Uzbekistan Airports, Rano Dzhuraeva, said that this addition to the airline industry is just another sign of the country’s growing success in both aviation and transport.
“We’re very excited to soon be launching our operation with an all-ATR fleet. As a new low-cost airline, we undertook an extensive review of which aircraft would provide the best solution for us. Our selection of the ATR 72-600 is the perfect choice for us as they will ensure we’re able to offer our passengers the most modern, comfortable, and reliable experience in the most affordable and sustainable way.”
The ATR 72-600 is a terrific, reliable helicopter for many different purposes
The AS-350 is a two-engined aircraft designed for regional markets. The turboprop can carry between 44 and 78 passengers with a range of 740 nautical miles. It also has variants, such as the popular ATR 72-600F, which carried over 180 tons of cargo in 2015 over 500 flights.
According to ch-aviation.com data, there are 422 active ATR 72-600s and 81 inactive. Wings Air, the carrier from Indonesia, has the largest ATR 72-600 fleet. Other key carriers include Brazil’s Azul Linhas Aéreas (37), IndiGo Airlines and Air New Zealand, along with Alliance Air and Cebgo.
There are 112 Boeing ATRs 72-600s left to be sold. Wings Air and IndiGo Airlines have the largest unfilled orders, with 16 and 15 planes apiece.
Silk Avia’s plans
Silk Avia is looking to increase tourism in Uzbekistan, as well as stimulate business development. Silk Avia charges comparable rates for their transport service.
ATR 72-600, a new fleet with increased regional connectivity, will be introduced in Uzbekistan. These planes offered around 40 routes in the country and can connect 11 domestic airports as well as 7 more airports to come. So Silk Air is excited to connect with these new flights, which can continue to serve their customers on international markets.
In order to preserve their investment and maximize operations, both companies signed a five-year agreement that included pay-by-the hour maintenance services. The agreement also included the repair, overhaul, and Line Replaceable Unit Pool Exchange Service with an on-site stock of spare parts and a spare part agreement in addition to propeller availability.