By Santanu Choudhury
NEW DELHI--Jet Airways (India) Ltd. (532617.BY) will take
delivery of five ATR 72-600 turboprop passenger aircraft by March,
a person with direct knowledge of the matter said Tuesday.
The short-haul, 68-seat planes will be used to replace a similar
number of ATR 72-500 planes on the fleet of Jet Airways, the
person, who declined to be named, told Dow Jones Newswires. The
first aircraft is expected to arrive in India this week, the person
added.
Jet Airways, India's biggest airline by market share, currently
has 17 ATR 72-500 planes on its fleet, which includes 11 aircraft
that can carry 62 passengers each and six planes that have 68 seats
each.
The ATR 72-600 is considered an advanced aircraft with low
operating cost and higher passenger comfort.
The person said that Jet Airways will take the planes on lease
from GE Capital Aviation Services, the commercial aircraft-leasing
and financing unit of General Electric Co. (GE).
ATR is a joint venture between European Aeronautic Defence &
Space Co. (EAD.FR) and Alenia Aermacci, a unit of Italy's
Finmeccanica SpA (FNC.MI).
Eric C. H. Lee, a Singapore-based spokesman for GE Capital,
didn't immediately reply to an emailed query.
Write to Santanu Choudhury at santanu.choudhury@dowjones.com
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