Air Serbia to take delivery of first ATR72-600
Air Serbia is set to take delivery of the first of several ATR72-600 aircraft. The first of the turboprops is currently undergoing test flights in Toulouse prior to delivery and already features the Air Serbia livery (pictured). The aircraft is not entirely new and was manufactured in 2015. It has flown for Malaysian carrier Firefly but was stored between 2016 and 2019. It was then operated by the Slovenian registered Amelia Aviation on domestic routes within France until December of last year. Several other ATRs, which will be taken up by the Serbian carrier, are already in Toulouse being prepared for the airline. Five to six frames in total are believed to be destined for Air Serbia, although the airline itself has not commented on the imminent delivery. As previously reported by EX-YU Aviation News, crew members have already started training for the type in December.
The ATR 72-600 features several improvements compared to its predecessors, the -500 and -200 variants operated by Air Serbia. It is powered by the new PW127M engines, which enable a 5% increase in takeoff power via a "boost function" used when conditions require it. The flight deck also features five wide LCD screens. A multi-purpose computer aims at increasing flight safety and operational capabilities, and new Thales-made avionics provide Required Navigation Performance capabilities. It also features lighter seats and larger overhead baggage bins. In December 2015, the EASA approved a new high-density seating layout, raising the maximum capacity from 74 to 78 seats. During the 2021 Dubai Airshow in mid-November 2021, ATR debuted the new ATR 72-600 engine which is powered by new PW127XT powerplants giving 20% lower maintenance cost and 3% more fuel-efficient compared to the current PW127M powerplant.
Air Serbia’s regional fleet currently consists of five turboprops, including three ATR72-200s, all of which are 31 years old, and two ATR72-500s, which are 23 and 24 years old respectively. All are being utilised by the carrier and are active within the fleet. The airline returned one of the -500 versions to its owner last year, after deciding not to renew its lease. It was the youngest among the ATRs at fifteen years. Late last year, the Serbian Minister for Finance, Siniša Mali, said the country’s national airline would retire older and noisier aircraft, as well as those producing greater gas emissions.
Image courtesy of T. Laurent
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