Fiji Airways receives new ATR72-600

Fiji Link now has three ATR planes.

Our News Director Vijay Narayan has more from France.

As the 5 year plan continues to gain momentum for Fiji Airways and Fiji Link, the new ATR72-600 was officially handed over to Fiji Link in Toulouse earlier today.

ATR CEO Patrick de Castelbajac handed over the keys of the new plane to Fiji Link CEO Shaenaz Voss which now opens up further opportunities for Fiji Link to look at other regional routes.

Voss said this is an exciting time for the airline as the new ATR has a seating capacity of 70.

She also confirmed there are more job opportunities after the delivery of the new aircraft.

When questioned on the leasing arrangement of the new plane, Voss said the lease details are confidential.

ATR CEO Castlebajac said Fiji Link has taken the step to lease the plane as the ATR has a backlog of 300 planes to deliver.

He said if Fiji Link would have placed its order, it would have joined that backlog and this would have meant that it could not expand its network.

The catalogue price for the outright purchase of the plane is 25 million US dollars.

The plane is now flying to Fiji and will reach Nadi next Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Flying Fijian and top Toulouse wing Timoci Matanavou was a special guest at the handover today.

He also took part in the delivery ceremony and Voss said Fiji Link was lucky that Matanavou could attend this historic ceremony.