Air Mauritius (MK, Mauritius) has announced it is replacing its ATR72-500s with ATR72-600s, with an additional -600 due to arrive in the Indian Ocean island this week and a second by the end of September, marking a "significant milestone" in strengthening its regional operations.
The airline already operates one company-owned 12-year-old ATR72-600, 3B-NCP (msn 1098), according to ch-aviation data.
In a statement, the airline said the second ATR72-600, to be registered as 3B-NCU (msn 1316), will depart from Toulouse Francazal this week to be ferried to Mauritius via stops at Luxor (Egypt), Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta (Kenya), and Nosy-Be (Madagascar). It will be deployed to Rodrigues Island and subsequently to St. Denis de la Réunion. It has been certified for Extended Twin Engine Operations Performance Standards (ETOPS) and has been specifically modified for Air Mauritius with flexible cargo handling and special transport capabilities to allow for the carriage of stretchers and medical evacuation equipment, especially on the Rodrigues route.
According to ch-aviation, the 9.4-year old aircraft is leased from DAE Capital. It previously flew for Xfly (Estonia) (EST, Tallinn Lennart Meri) under the registration ES-ATK.
Air Mauritius said it expects delivery of a third leased ATR 72-600 by the end of September to replace an ATR72-500. "The ATR72 fleet will then comprise one ATR72-500 and three ATR 72-600 aircraft," it stated.
The airline currently operates two ATR72-500s: the company-owned 23.2-year-old 3B-NBG (msn 690) and the 14.8-year-old 3B-NBN (msn 921), leased from DAE Capital.
