Virgin Australia inaugurates ATR 72-500 services

Virgin Australia launched commercial services with the first of its new ATR 72-500 turboprop airliners. The inaugural flight of Virgin Australia’s first turboprop – and Australia’s first ATR 72 – was also the airline’s first flight from Brisbane to the regional industrial city of Gladstone. Perth-based Skywest will operate the new ATR services on behalf of Virgin Australia, with a fleet of eight 68-seat ATR 72 aircraft. The airline has orders for four of the series 500 model – three of which have now been delivered – and four of the next-generation series 600 model. Skywest also has options to acquire another five ATR 72-600s, all of which it will operate for Virgin.