Industry SKY express orders six ATR 72-600 aircraft

To further modernize and bolster its fleet, the fast-growing SKY express from Greece has pinned yet another purchase agreement. This time, the airline has signed with Turboprop manufacturer ATR for six ATR 72-600 for regional operations.

At the beginning of this month, ATR released, that SKY express already took delivery of its first ATR 72. The aircraft has already entered into service with the carrier on regional routes, mostly within Greece. Over the course of the next months, the other five aircraft will be delivered to the carrier, too.

With the new aircraft, SKY express is pushing its fleet modernization programme. The airline already operates with five ATR 72s, most of them are between 13 and 22 years old. The ATR 42 fleet is even older with an average age of around 24 years.

Ioannis Grylos, CEO of the IOGR Group of companies, said: “The acquisition of six new state-of-the-art ATR 72-600 aircraft is yet another landmark in SKY express’ course. In today’s context, it is more important than ever before to be able to offer our passengers efficient and flexible solutions with the best possible standards of comfort and safety. Our ATRs will support the Greek tourism industry and help reboot the Greek economy, always showing due respect to our clients and the environment, reaching every single area of our country.”

ATR Chief Executive, Stefano Bortoli, added: “We are proud when an airline chooses ATR aircraft for their fleet renewal, as moving from the -500 to the -600 series shows the value of our continuous development policy. SKY express will benefit from the latest-generation upgradeable avionics suite and its passengers will enjoy a modern, comfortable cabin. [...] Upon the final delivery of these aircraft, SKY express will have the youngest ATR fleet in Europe and its passengers will benefit from them for many years to come.”

In the past months, SKY express was able to welcome six state-of-the-art Airbus A320neos to its fleet, with four of them being bought in on lease. With these aircraft, the airline will operate efficiently to routes throughout Europe. Last month, the airline opened a new route to Hamburg Helmut Schmidt Airport in Germany.