Air Corsica (XK, Ajaccio) has confirmed an order for two ATR72-600s directly from ATR - Avions de Transport Régional, initially placed during this year's Paris Air Show. The two aircraft are due for delivery in the first half of 2024.
The carrier will thus grow its ATR72-600 fleet from the current five to seven units. Former chief executive Luc Bereni told ch-aviation recently that the airline was planning to retire its only ATR42-500 by the end of 2023 to focus exclusively on the ATR72-600 type. Air Corsica completed the phase-out of the ATR72-500s at the end of April 2023.
"By harmonising our fleet around the ATR72-600 aircraft, we will continue to contribute actively to our island's economic prosperity, providing our customers with a fast, reliable, economical and socially responsible means of transport," said Marie-Hélène Casanova-Servas, the President of Air Corsica's Supervisory Board.
On top of its five in-house ATR72-600s, Air Corsica also wet-leases one unit of the type from BRA - Braathens Regional Airways (TF, Trollhättan). The turboprops are deployed mainly on PSO routes that connect all four Corsican airports (Ajaccio, Bastia, Calvi, and Figari) with each of Marseilles and Nice.
The ch-aviation fleets module shows that Air Corsica also operates four A320-200s and two A320-200Ns. Two leased -200s are due to be replaced with two more new -200Ns in the first half of 2024. The two remaining -200s are owned by the airline and will continue to be used mostly for seasonal, non-PSO routes, where low ownership costs are crucial.
