Air Tahiti has put six ATR 72-500s on the market as part of its fleet renewal program.
The aircraft will be remarketed via UK lessor Falko Regional Aircraft as it re-equips with three ATR 42-600s and four ATR 72-600s that it has on order with the Toulouse-based manufacturer.
The six -500s were built between 2005-2009 and will be available from this quarter. They have been operated from new by the Pacific Ocean airline, whose route network covers 47 islands in French Polynesia.
The airline’s website gives its current fleet strength as two ATR 42s and seven ATR 72s, without specifying precise models, as well as two DHC Twin Otters and three Beechcraft King Air 200s.
“It’s a fairly strong market for the ATR 72 at the moment,” Falko manager-corporate finance Richard Dudley-Cave said. “There’s a fairly healthy delivery pipeline for ATR 72-600s, creating availability of -500s.”
While Falko would not be limiting its remarketing efforts to any particular region, the ATR was particularly popular in both Asia-Pacific and Europe, he added.