ORC (Oriental Air Bridge), a Japanese regional
airline, has taken delivery of its first ATR 42-600.
The 48-seat aircraft, covered by an
ATR Global Maintenance Agreement (GMA) contract, was ordered in July and carries
a new ORC livery.
ORC plans to start
operating the ATR aircraft in July 2023, supporting domestic activities in providing reliable
connectivity from Nagasaki (長崎) on the island of Kyushu in Japan.
“With the unrivalled versatility and sustainable performance
of ATR aircraft, this delivery represents a step forward for us to
better serve our higher purpose of providing air link to revitalise the remote islands around Nagasaki Prefecture, in the
most responsible way,” said Tanaka, ORC’s Senior Managing Director. “We will also be able to offer our passengers
the highest standards of comfort and modernity, while ensuring
cost effectiveness through our ATR Global Maintenance Agreement.
We look forward to welcoming passengers on our flights to visit
the remote island of Nagasaki where some beautiful world heritages
are located.”
There are currently 15 ATR aircraft flying across
Japan.
Over the next ten years, ATR foresees a demand of 100 regional
aircraft in the country, most of which will replace older, less
efficient models, connecting islands and remote regions with
the country’s major cities.
“Air transport is crucial for Japan, where air
routes are essential for domestic travel and transportation. As
such, ORC is boosting local economy every day by offering vital
links for local communities from Nagasaki and surrounded islands,”
said ATR Chief Executive Officer, Nathalie Tarnaud Laude.
“At ATR, we are pleased to count ORC as one of our new customers
and to contribute to support their mission in providing them with
the most affordable and responsible aircraft in the market. The
support we will be able to provide through the ATR Global
Maintenance Agreement will also ensure the most reliable and
efficient services for their fleet.”
In addition to the new ATR, ORC has a fleet of two
39-seat Bombardier DHC-8-201 aircraft and three 74-seat Bombardier
DHC-8-400 (74 seats) flying between Nagasaki and Iki, Goto Fukue
and Tsushima, as well as between Fukuoka and Goto Fukue, Miyazaki,
Komatsu and Tsushima.
