Newly announced investments by South America’s Synergy Group has given Franco-Italian turboprop manufacturer ATR a major boost to its production backlog, most recently with a firm order for 12 ATR 72-600s along with options for six. The deal, announced Tuesday, adds to an order for six ATR 72-600s and two ATR 42-600s placed a day earlier by Mexico’s Aeromar, a 49-percent stake in which Synergy Aerospace has committed to take for $100 million.

Synergy, which also owns a controlling stake in Avianca, plans to place the 12 ATR 72-600s ordered Tuesday with a new Argentinian subsidiary called Avian Líneas Aéreas, branded as Avianca Argentina under a license agreement. Avian Líneas Aéreas expects to take first delivery by the end of the year, and place its first new turboprop into service during next year’s first quarter. Its growth strategy centers on the Argentinian market, where it will introduce new regional routes and connections to and from main hubs, first in Buenos Aires and then in Córdoba.

“We are looking forward to expanding services and linking under-served communities in Argentina thanks not only to a highly efficient and modern ATR 72-600 fleet but also the technical and logistic support of ATR/Airbus stemming from a traditional strong partnership, as well as to broaden and deepen Avianca’s network in South America,” said Synergy Aersospace chairman Germán Efromovich.

Synergy and ATR have worked together closely for the past five years. In 2012, Synergy Aerospace majority owned subsidiary Avianca Holdings bought 15 ATR 72-600s now flown by Avianca in Colombia and Central America.