Toulouse, France - Bangkok Airways (BA), the SET-listed full-service airline, on Wednesday took delivery of the first of nine regional aeroplanes ordered from European turboprop maker ATR.
Bangkok Airways president Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth (left) and ATR chief executive Patrick de Castelbajac shake on the deal in the cockpit of the Thai airline's first ATR 72-600.
Delivery of the ATR 72-600 turboprop in a ceremony held at ATR's Toulouse facility in southern France marked the start of a major fleet renewal in decades for Bangkok Airways, which is taking place a month after the airline's public fund-raising exercise.
It raised 13 billion baht from its initial public offering last month, the largest of its kind in Thailand so far this year.
Proceeds will be used for four purposes — funding the fleet renewal, building a hangar at Suvarnabhumi airport, improving Koh Samui airport and working capital.
The order for the nine turboprops, worth a combined US$222 million, is part of the airline's strategy of matching its growing secondary network and frequency requirements with more modern and efficient aircraft, president Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth said.
It will contribute to the airline's long-term economic performance as the airline expands its fleet capacity and widens the scope of its activities.
The new-generation ATRs come equipped with new cockpit technology brought from the A380 superjumbo jet and featuring a high comfort layout with larger overhead bins.
Bangkok Airways will take delivery of the ATR 72-600s between now and 2017, replacing the eight older-series ATR 72-500s now deployed.
The airline's ATR 72-600 has seating capacity for 70 passengers with a maximum flying range of 1,600 kilometres.
BA shares closed on Thursday on the SET at 20.90 baht, up 10 satang, in trade worth 128 million baht.
