Angola’s Bestfly aviation services company has taken delivery of its first ATR 72 turboprop aircraft from France, with the second due to arrive by 10 August.
The first aircraft arrived over the weekend after being accepted during a ceremony at Toulouse Francazal Airport in France on 2 August.
The twin-engine, turbo-prop regional airliners, which have been leased from ACIA Aero Capital group, represent a first of this type for Bestfly, as well as being the first ATR-600 series to operate in Angola.
Complementing the existing Bestfly fleet of fifteen aircraft and two helicopters, the addition of the ATR 72-600s marks an important evolution for the business as it adds corporate shuttle service operations to its existing jet, turbo-prop and rotary charter services, ATR said.
Nuno Pereira, CEO and Founder of Bestfly, anticipates the new aircraft will be kept busy supporting corporate charters for the energy sector, private charters for the expanding national business fraternity and will interline with international commercial business class passengers requiring further transport across the vast nation of Angola.
Following completion of the final parts of certification by the Angolan CAA (INAVIC), the first charter is slated for the beginning of September for a flight from Luanda to Cabinda.
Based at Aeroporto Internacional Quatro de Fevereiro the ATR 72–600s join a fleet containing one Gulfstream G550, a Gulfstream G450, a Bombardier Global Express, Challenger 605, and two Learjet 45s, as well as a Dassault Falcon 900, four King Airs and two Leonardo AW139 helicopters.
