Taiwan's Mandarin Airlines opts for ATR 72-600s

Taiwanese carrier Mandarin Airlines has ordered six ATR 72-600s, valued at $160m at current list prices. The airline is a new customer for the Franco-Italian turboprop manufacturer. Mandarin Airlines is a regional subsidiary of Taiwanese flag carrier China Airlines. The new aircraft will operate on Taiwan’s domestic network, in what ATR describes as a competitive and highly challenging market. The first aircraft will be delivered in 2018 and will be outfitted in a single-class, 70-seat configuration. “China Airlines and Mandarin Airlines … have conducted a very thorough and comprehensive evaluation of alternatives for their regional network in Taiwan,” ATR CEO Christian Scherer said. “The outcome proves once again that when assessed competitively, the ATR 72-600 logically prevails in the eyes of the most discerning airlines. We look forward to our partnership with Mandarin, and to supporting a stellar operation.”<br/>