MacAir Airlines.

MacAir Airlines of Queensland, Australia, has launched service with Australia s first ATR 42-500 turboprop aircraft, further expanding ATR's presence in the Australasia-Pacific Islands region. Stephane Mayer, ATR CEO, noted that, although the MacAir ATR 42-500 is the first of its type to be stationed in Australia, there are already some 30 ATR 42 and larger ATR 72 aircraft operating elsewhere in the South Pacific region, with operators in markets including New Zealand, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Vanuatu and Fiji. ATR has established a regional sales office in Sydney, Australia, and a regional spare parts centre in Auckland, New Zealand, to support the growing number of ATR aircraft in the region, and from September this year, Air New Zealand Subsidiary Mount Cook Airline--which operates 11 ATR 72-500s--will establish a fixed-base ATR pilot training simulator in Christchurch, on New Zealand's South Island. Since the beginning of the year, ATR has received orders for 77 new aircraft, some of them not yet unveiled. In other news, ATR and Indonesian low-cost carrier Batavia Air signed a contract for the acquisition of 10 new ATR 72-500s and options for 10 additional aircraft. It is the first contract signed by an Indonesian airline for new ATRs. The aircraft, configured with 74-seats, will be equipped with the "Elegance" cabin Light Emitting Diode (LED), Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) and the newest technological innovations in passenger comfort, communications and navigation tools. In addition. one of the aircraft will be equipped with a Quick Change VIP Kit. A Medevac configuration will also improve access to health services for remote communities. Deliveries will extend until 2010. Batavia Air was created six years ago. The Batavia Training Academy is considering acquiring an ATR Flight Simulator in order to complement its offer and propose training.