ATR Lands New 600 Series Order
Moroccan flag carrier Royal Air Maroc signed a firm order with ATR for six of the Franco-Italian manufacturer’s 600 Series turboprops now under development

Moroccan flag carrier Royal Air Maroc signed a firm order with ATR for six of the Franco-Italian manufacturer’s 600 Series turboprops now under development, the companies announced today. The order, which calls for delivery of a pair of 48-seat ATR 42-600s and four 70-seat ATR 72-600s, includes an option for a further two ATR 72-600s.

RAM plans to assign the aircraft to a new regional subsidiary, Royal Air Maroc Express, scheduled for launch this summer. The parties unveiled the contract on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the opening of the Toulouse-Casablanca route by Aéropostale, the French Air Post Service.

ATR has scheduled delivery of the new 600 Series airplanes to start in the spring of 2011, soon after the new aircraft type wins EASA certification. Until then, RAM Express plans to fly a fleet of four used ATR 72-200s leased directly from the manufacturer.