Avianca and Taca order 15 ATR 72-600s

European turboprop aircraft manufacturer ATR and Latin American aviation group AviancaTaca Holding announced the signature of a major contract for the purchase of 15 ATR 72-600s, plus options for 15 additional aircraft. The deal, including the options, is valued at close to US$700m. Avianca and Taca recently made its final choice after an exhaustive evaluation of all the competing alternatives, opting for the ATR 72-600 to provide the best overall solution. The deliveries of the firm aircraft will start in June 2013. AviancaTaca is one of the largest and fastest growing aviation groups in Latin America. It currently operates a combined fleet of more than 150 aircraft, the second largest fleet in Latin America. The group serves more than 100 destinations in Latin America, US, Canada, Caribbean region and Europe, and has 4 major hubs in Bogota, San Salvador, Lima and San José de Costa Rica. With the introduction of their fleet of 15 brand new 70-seat ATR 72-600, AviancaTaca will progressively replace their Fokker 50s and ATR 42s currently in operation.