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19-Dec-2012 7:41 AM

Malaysia Airlines signs MoU with ATR for 36 ATR 72-600s for Firefly and MASwings

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) announced (17-Dec-2012) it signed an MoU with ATR for the purchase of 36 new ATR 72-600 aircraft worth MYR3 billion (USD900 million) at list prices. Of the 36 ordered, Firefly will take on 20 new aircraft whilst 16 will be inducted into the fleet of its sister company MASwings. This significant deal is part of the expansion plans for Firefly and MASWings, both wholly-owned subsidiaries of Malaysia Airlines. Currently Firefly operates with 12 ATR 72-500 while MASwings operates 10 similar aircraft. The additional enhanced series of ATR 72-600s, is expected to arrive gradually from the end of 2Q2013 to complement the demand of Firefly's services and support the network expansion plans of MASwings. Malaysia Airlines Group CEO Ahmad Jauhari Yahya said Firefly is expected to rapidly grow within the next five years especially with the surge of trade movements within the domestic sectors especially with regions like Johor having the booming Iskandar projects and others such as Penang, Selangor, and Kota Bahru which are equally flourishing. The additional aircraft will be utilised to continue growing Firefly's network and providing customers with more travel options. Likewise, the new aircraft are timely for MASwings which has set its focus on expansion in the BIMP-EAGA region whilst also increasing travel comfort for domestic operations within East Malaysia. He commented, "The new aircraft for MASwings fleet will be timely to provide more feeder traffic into the hubs of Kuching and Kota Kinabalu for onward connectivity to the jet destinations served by Malaysia Airlines." [more - original PR - Malaysia Airlines] [more - original PR - Malaysia Airlines II]

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