Aer Arann, Ireland's premier regional airline, accepted delivery of its first ATR 72-500 on May 25. This aircraft is the first to be delivered following the signature last year of a contract worth over US$180 million for 10 ATR 72-500s.

The second aircraft will be delivered in the course of 2007, five others in 2008 and three in 2009. The aircraft are configured in a 72-seater configuration.

Aer Arann currently operates a fleet of 14 ATR 42 and ATR 72, and this new aircraft will be the first of the new -500 series in their fleet.

The delivery ceremony took place at the final assembly line in Toulouse with Padraig O'Ceidigh, Aer Arann Managing Director and Filippo Bagnato, ATR CEO.

Padraig O'Ceidigh said "I am pleased to take delivery of the first new generation of aircraft because of its great efficiency and reliability to modern operations." He added: "This first new ATR 72-500 represents the beginning of a new era of the development of our company and our network."

Regarding the new generation of ATR aircraft, Filippo Bagnato underlined that "The technical improvements of the new generation '-500 series', with its unbeatable economics, its lowest fuel consumption and its environment care, are key factors of the ATR aircraft success worldwide." He added: "We are happy with the confidence of Aer Arann in our aircraft and their decision of upgrading their fleet with the new generation ATRs."

From the beginning of 2007, ATR has received orders for 27 new aircraft, some of them not yet unveiled, and has delivered 12 aircraft. Since the beginning of the programme, ATR has sold 864 aircraft (402 ATR 42s and 462 ATR 72s) and delivered 725 aircraft (393 ATR 42 and 332 ATR 72), thus posting a current backlog of 139 aircraft.