Aurigny granted extension to finalise new ATRs deal
AURIGNY has been given more time to finalise a deal for three new ATRs.
The publicly-owned airline is continuing to work with the States’ Trading Supervisory Board – which has oversight of Aurigny – on the proposals after securing an extension to a letter of intent to buy the aircraft from manufacturer ATR.
The letter of intent was announced in July, with the business case for the new ATR 72-600s expected to go to the States later this year. The new aircraft would replace the three ATR 72-500s operated by Aurigny.
‘We have secured an extension to the letter of intent with ATR until a date in December. This allows us to continue to work with the States’ Trading Supervisory Board on proposals for the States,’ said an Aurigny spokesman.
The new aircraft would also be fitted with ClearVision ‘fog-busting technology’ – with Aurigny’s own analysis estimating that it would reduce delays due to fog by around 50%.
Earlier this month, Aurigny chairman Andrew Haining said: ‘Our current fleet of ATRs are operating well. But there’s a point at which they’re going to spend longer periods of time in the hangar.
‘Larger commercial airlines aim to keep their average age of aircraft under 10 years and we would like to do the same.’
The business case was being made on the basis of it being the ‘right time’ to replace the existing fleet, he said, with the ClearVision technology being an ‘added bonus’.
If the purchase is approved by the States, Aurigny could be ATR’s launch customer for ClearVision, while the new aircraft could potentially be operational in the fourth quarter of 2019.
A STSB spokesman said: ‘The STSB has been continuing to work with Aurigny on the business case it has been developing for the replacement of its ATR aircraft. Its intention is to present a policy letter to the States setting out its position on the matter at their December meeting.’
