Regional aircraft manufacturer ATR and Japanese airline Toki Air have announced the delivery of an ATR 72-600 via lessor NAC. Watch the aircraft being painted with its new livery.
The aircraft will support Toki Air’s mission of revitalising Niigata city and the surrounding regions of Japan. The carrier plans to start operations in 2023.
The fourth airline to operate ATR aircraft in Japan, Toki Air has chosen the name of an ancestral bird also called ‘Japanese crested ibis’, mainly living in Sado island. This is a symbol of the preservation of nature in Japan. It represents the airline’s commitment to connecting areas that coexist with nature, operating the lowest COâ‚‚ emissions and most fuel-efficient aircraft. The new ATR 72-600 sports a livery representing the spread wings of Toki.
Masaki Hasegawa, representative director of Toki Air, commented: “We are pleased to start operating our ATR 72-600 aircraft soon. Thanks to their unrivalled versatility and responsible and affordable performance, ATR aircraft are the ideal choice for us as an airline and for our country. This first aircraft will allow us to serve our higher purpose by providing a responsible and reliable air connection to the communities of the Niigata Prefecture and surrounding regions. We look forward to seeing Toki flying in the skies of Japan.”
ATR chief executive officer, Nathalie Tarnaud Laude, added: “Our long-term relationship with NAC and the confidence of the lessors’ community in our aircraft allow new airlines such as Toki Air to offer their passengers the most modern and sustainable aircraft on the regional market. The support we will be able to provide through the ATR global maintenance agreement will also ensure the most reliable and efficient services.”
