interCaribbean Airways (JY, Providenciales) has taken delivery of its maiden ATR42-500 as it seeks to expand its regional network.
VQ-THM (msn 621) was ferried from Santo Domingo Las Américas to Providenciales on August 8, 2021, and has remained in storage since then. The 19.5-year-old turboprop is owned by Gladiator Leasing and was previously operated Air Tahiti and Satena, the ch-aviation fleets module shows. The Turks & Caicos Island carrier said the aircraft has been configured for 48 passengers in a single-class layout. It has yet to file schedules for the new type.
"interCaribbean continues to build for the future expanding its fleet to offer more connectivity across the Caribbean, especially for long-distance flights," it said.
The aircraft is interCaribbean's first ATR - Avions de Transport Régional unit and although it was acquired in early 2020, the ensuing COVID-19 pandemic delayed its induction. The airline also operates a single E145 (with a further three ex-Dniproavia jets due for delivery), ten E120s, and one DHC-6-300.
During the CaribAvia Caribbean Aviation Conference, chief executive Trevor Sadler said interCaribbean was planning to convert some of its E120s into freighters going forward. While the aircraft have started proving themselves too small for the passenger market, they are owned by the airline and thus have low ownership costs and could be efficiently used for cargo routes within the Caribbean. The airline also mooted plans to add more ATRs to replace the E120s.
Sadler told ch-aviation that the airline was looking to add more ATRs going forward but he would not disclose the specific entry into service timeline.
