Taiwan-based UNI Air, a subsidiary of EVA Air, has signed a contract with European regional turboprop manufacturer ATR to purchase 10 ATR 72-600s. Deliveries are scheduled to start in third quarter 2012. The contract was formalized with a ceremony in Taiwan today.

UNI Air will use its new ATR-600s to progressively replace the Dash-8-300 aircraft it now has in its fleet. The regional carrier's new ATRs will be equipped with advanced technologies such as a glass cockpit avionics suite and redesigned cabin interiors. The aircraft will feature Armonia cabin especially created for ATR by Italy's Giugiaro Design and equipped for passengers' enhanced comforts with lighter-weight slim-line seats and larger overhead bins that will accommodate a maximum number of carry-on bags.

UNI Air Chairman Tony Su said, "We are pleased to update our regional fleet with the most modern aircraft on the market. The new ATR -600 series will enable us to give our passengers the highest standards of comfort and, at the same time, optimize our fuel and operating costs. We are looking forward to introducing our new ATR aircraft and operating them in Asia."

On behalf of the aircraft manufacturer, ATR Chief Executive Officer Filippo Bagnato added, "We are honored to welcome UNI Air among our steadily growing ATR family. This contract confirms the attractiveness of our aircraft in the rapidly growing Asian region. In the last several years, Asia and the Pacific region have represented some 50% of our total order intakes."

As of today, 50 Asia-Pacific operators are flying 250 aircraft in the burgeoning air travel market. ATR's delivery schedule currently includes approximately 100 aircraft on order for Asia-Pacific carriers.

About the ATR 72-600

Passenger capacity: 68-74 seats

Engines: Pratt & Whitney 127M

Maximum power at take-off: 2,750 horse power per engine

Maximum weight at take-off: 23,000 Kg

Maximum load: 7,500 Kg

Maximum range with full passenger load: 899 nautical miles (1,665 Km)

Fuel burn (1-hour flight): 2.5 kg/passenger/100 km

About UNI Air

UNI Air is the largest domestic airline in Taiwan where it serves 11 destinations with 15 routes. The carrier also flies between Taiwan and Vietnam and serves nine destinations in the booming China market via 16 routes in addition to its operations to other international gateways within the region. UNI Air uses a fleet that includes 11 MD-90 jets and eight DH8-300 propeller aircraft. UNI Air passed the IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) operational safety check with flying colors in April 2006 and was awarded the IOSA certificate in October of the same year. The EVA Air subsidiary is part of the Evergreen Group. The two carriers combined operate a network linking 17 destinations in China and have plans to introduce flights to eight more cities within the near future. With the added gateway, UNI Air and EVA Air together will be flying to 25 destinations in China and operating 39 routes.

About ATR

Founded in 1981, ATR has become the leading manufacturer worldwide in the 50-to-74-seat regional turboprop aircraft market. Since the start of the program, ATR has sold more than 1,100 aircraft operated by 175 airlines in 94 countries with a combined total of more than 21 million flight hours. ATR, headquartered in Toulouse, is an equal-share joint venture between two major players in the European aviation market, Alenia Aeronautica (a Finmeccanica company) and EADS. ATR holds ISO 14001 certification, the global benchmark for environmental management and sustainable development.

Contributed by ATR.