Jet Time has today taken delivery of the first of six new ATR 72-600 turboprops. This aircraft has been acquired on lease from the Danish leasing company Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC). All the ATR72-600 aircraft will be assigned to feed the SAS Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) route network, as part of a commercial arrangement between SAS and Jet Time, and they will all be painted in SAS livery. The delivery ceremony for this very first ATR 72-600 series aircraft to be operated in Europe’s Nordic countries took place in Toulouse, France, in the presence of the management teams of Jet Time, NAC, SAS and ATR. Deliveries of the next five ATR 72-600s will be completed by early in 2014.

The introduction of these new 70-seat ATR 72-600s, the most fuel efficient aircraft in their category, will contribute to Jet Time’s economic performance in the long run as the airline expands its fleet capacity and widens the scope of its activity. These new generation ATRs are equipped with a new full-glass cockpit and feature a high comfort layout with larger overhead bins.

The Chief Executive Officer of Jet Time, Klaus Ren, declared: “We have been looking forward to this first delivery. Today, we are thrilled that this modern turboprop airplane becomes the backbone of Jet Time’s new activity. With a very good balance of comfort, modern technologies, cost efficiencies and highly regarded environmental qualities, the ATR 72-600 aircraft will also secure an effective and smooth launch of new regional service for Nordic travellers.”

Joakim Landholm, Chief Commercial Officer, SAS: “I look forward to offering our clients the comfort and pleasure of a brand new aircraft on our North European routes, where Jet Time will operate the ATR 72-600 for SAS. With the smaller aircraft we can adapt our traffic to our customer’s needs with many frequencies and destinations. Thus, the partnership gives us the possibility to strengthen our network regionally and at the same time expand on popular leisure destination with our own modern aircraft.”

“We are happy to see the first ATR-600 series aircraft to start operations in the Scandinavian skies” Martin Møller, Chairman of NAC, declared. “When acquiring an aircraft we favor those with the most modern technologies, low operating costs, excellent green credentials and versatility ATR turboprop aircraft and particularly the newest -600s perfectly match these requirements for short-haul operations”.

Filippo Bagnato, Chief Executive Officer of ATR, stated: “Today’s delivery to Jet Time is very significant because this is the first ATR-600 aircraft to go to the Scandinavian region. There has been very positive feedback from passengers who have travelled on the ATR 72-500s in the region, and the enhanced comfort of the new 600 series will contribute to further consolidate the strong reputation of the ATR planes. We are pleased to welcome Jet Time that has been able to introduce the ATR72-600 in SAS network, among our operators.”