US-based aircraft lessor Air Lease Corporation (ALC) has ordered 2 new ATR 72-600 regional turboprop aircraft. ALC already booked an order in 2010 for 10 ATR 72-600s, plus options for 10 additional aircraft. Today's contract is the conversion of two of these ten options. The two aircraft are valued at a list price of US$45 million. Deliveries of these two ATR 72-600s to ALC will occur in the spring of 2013.

"ALC has successfully placed the 10 aircraft from our initial order at Farnborough last year and we are pleased to continue to offer the ATR 72-600 turboprop as part of our aircraft portfolio," said Steven F. Udvar-Hazy, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Air Lease Corporation. "The ATR 72-600's attractive economics and performance capabilities make the aircraft a strong asset for our leasing business. ALC seeks innovative solutions for our airline customers and the continued partnership with ATR furthers this mission."

Filippo Bagnato, Chief Executive Officer of ATR, declares: "We are delighted with Air Lease Corporation's choice of introducing additional ATRs into their portfolio. ATR is honored to partner with such a prestigious and worldwide-respected leasing company, and we are convinced that their ATR fleet will bring both ALC and its customers many successful stories. ATR aircraft, because of their economics, proven reliability and state-of-the-art interior designs, have become a worldwide reference among regional carriers. ATRs are providing new business opportunities to lessors, as they see the strong demand for this product, both in booming economies and consolidated markets."

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 Air Lease Corporation

Launched in 2010, ALC is an aircraft leasing company based in Los Angeles, California that has airline customers throughout the world. ALC and its team of dedicated and experienced professionals are principally engaged in purchasing commercial aircraft and leasing them to its airline partners worldwide through customized aircraft leasing and financing solutions.

About ATR

Formed in 1981, ATR has grown to become a leading manufacturer of 50 to 74 seat regional turboprop aircraft, has sold more than 1,200 aircraft and has 175 operators in 94 countries. ATR operators have accumulated more than 21 million flights. ATR is a joint venture and equal partnership between major European aerospace companies Alenia Aeronautica (a Finmeccanica company) and EADS. Its headquarters are in Toulouse, France. ATR is certified ISO 14001, the worldwide standard for environmental management and sustainability.

Contributed by ATR