[Mohd Firdaus Bolong]

Hmm, I don't know what's the REAL purpose of purchasing the ATRs,good news for the spotters by the way but I really do think they have to think of replacing the 737s as these airliners are the real workhorses of the company.

[Kevin Teh]

Hmm, I don't know what's the REAL purpose of purchasing the ATRs,good news for the spotters by the way but I really do think they have to think of replacing the 737s as these airliners are the real workhorses of the company.

they are considering as they have send out RFP earlier this year for 55 narrowbody. Expect annoucement in few months time by the year end for 737 replacements

[Kenneth T]

News from oven..a complete surprise for me here....seems like Embraer dreams can never comes true...next we should expect some good news for the B737 replacement. I personally will prefer B787 over A350....as for the B777 replacement but in view of BOeing to raise the B787's price, this may prompt MAS to select the A350XWB..which is sad case

[Radzi]

anyone hav any idea how the plane look like?---?>ATR 72-500 thanks

Do a search in www.airliners.net

I have a theory regarding the ATR purchase for Firefly.

I think Firefly will connect the smaller airports both in the Peninsular and in Borneo. The current FAXs Fokker route, plus more, wherever it makes sense, will be operated by Firefly. MASwings will operate the RAS with the Twotters, where a government subsidy will be needed to survive.

If my theory comes true, you'll see the ATRs in KCH again, probably shuttling KCH-SBW a few times a day. Just like the Fokkers in the good old days before the route greedylization.

[Leo]

These aircraft will be equipped with the "Elegance" cabin, Light Emitting Diode (LED), In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) and ETOPS 120, as well as the latest technological innovations in passenger comfort, communications and navigation tools, it added.

Wow Firefly offer IFE in flight entertaiment. Wow what a low cost airlines they have.

[FK Wong]

i have a question here.might sound a little bit too stupid but it takes a little while to absorb what i will say.
These aircraft that is purchased is done via MAS itself or its parent company PMB which is done in the leasing manner like the A380?
as far as am i concern the aircraft F50 for the firefly company is actually being purchased from PMB by MAS for the use of firefly?
here it says
"We have those three additional aircraft sitting there, basically doing nothing, until MAS set up Firefly. We asked (PMB) whether we could purchase those aircraft." quoted by D.Idris Jala

"We have purchased two of the aircraft (for Firefly), and there's still one sitting there with PMB today," he said.

Here again i would like to state what is said in the press release by ATR

"The aircraft are intended for the expansion of Firefly - subsidiary airline 100 % owned by MAS "

sound like MAS is slowly getting on their feet again after having all their aircrafts being sold to PMB last time when they were in trouble.
=)

It feels funny because MAS has been running into cash strapped situation for a while and they are able to purchase new aircraft right now.
Are they the second airline around to come back from having debts of millions or billions after AIRASIA?

This post has been edited by FK Wong: 26 June 2007 - 11:27 PM

[Mushrif A]

The ATRs are bought by MH, not PMB. Idris did say that MH should now own planes, as probably leasing rates have gone up.

The sale to PMB was merely to address a liquidity-debt crunch. PMB was created to solve MH's problem, not to get into the real business of aircraft leasing, like say, SALE or ALAFCO (the Kuwaiti firm that owns MH's newest two 772s), or ILFC.

I reckon FY will operate the ATRs on KCH-SBW like Radzi said, as well as BKI-LBU/Sandakan, Tawau, MYY-LBU. FY will also elegantly "kacau" AK by having point-to-point routes in the peninsula from SZB. It is only a matter of time before the authorities grant more rights to other airports from SZB. I'm sure lots of Klang Valley folks will prefer to fly out of SZB than LCCT at KLIA.

[Gavin Andrew David]

ATR 72-500








Hope Malaysia Airlines will do the same as what Bangkok Air does with their ATR fleet
Everything is special

[Pieter C.]

Adrian, I am glad that MAS is not purchasing the Dash 8. Having riding both of types in NZ and I think they are not as good as the ATR 72s.

Agree there, S V, see also my response # 11

[KK Lee]

The Sabah and Sarawak network has remain unchanged for over 30 years. ATR is F50 replacement just like F50 to F27.

If ERJ or CRJ is chosen, may transform the network. Then again, if FAX can’t touch the network, why rock the boat? Mas management is not paid to think outside the box.

Just my 2 cents

[Mushrif A]

The Sabah and Sarawak network has remain unchanged for over 30 years. ATR is F50 replacement just like F50 to F27.

If ERJ or CRJ is chosen, may transform the network. Then again, if FAX can’t touch the network, why rock the boat? Mas management is not paid to think outside the box.

Just my 2 cents

I think you are basing your opinion on "what looks good", and not based on today's reality of fuel prices and operating economics.

[Pieter C.]

It will be a busy period ahead for the ATR72

Jet Airways Orders 13 ATR 72-500 Aircraft

June 20, 2007
ATR, a joint venture of EADS and Italian group Finmeccanica, announced an order for 13 ATR 72-500s to be operated by Jet Airways.

An agreement for six of the planes has been reached with Irish-based leasing company Aircraft International Renting, a unit of TAT Leasing, ATR said at the Paris air show on Wednesday.

Jet Airways has concluded purchase agreements for the remaining seven planes and plans to conclude lease agreements for these aircraft too.

The total value of the contracts is about USD$238 million, ATR said.

(Reuters)