India's flybig ends ATR72-500 operations

flybig (FLG, Indore) returned its only ATR72-500 to Avation by mutual agreement earlier this month following which the lessor sold the 12-year-old turboprop to Buddha Air (U4, Kathmandu) in Nepal.

VT-FBA (msn 955) operated its last revenue flight on August 27, 2023, flying from Kolkata to Guwahati, Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows. The aircraft was subsequently ferried to Hyderabad International on October 9, following the return to the lessor. On October 27, it was ferried to Kathmandu as 2-FTBA where it will become 9N-AOC.

The Indian regional specialist continues to operate two ATR72-600s (only one active) and one DHC-6-400. It is awaiting the delivery of two more Twin Otters.

CH Aviation

 

NEW AIRCRAFT - India's flybig signs for 2+10 DHC-6s

 flybig (FLG, Indore) has placed a firm order with De Havilland Aircraft of Canada (DHC, Toronto Downsview) for two DHC-6-400s and signed a Letter of Intent for another up to ten newly announced DHC-6-300-G aircraft during the ongoing 2023 Paris Air Show.

"Twin Otters are the perfect aircraft for India's UDAN regional airport development program, part of the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) for improving underserviced air routes and connecting Tier 2 and Tier 3 communities. Our two -400 aircraft will help realise our Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision to connect India's hinterland, and we are looking forward to working with De Havilland Aircraft of Canada on potential future acquisitions of the new Classic 300-Gs," Chairman and Managing Director Sanjay Mandavia said. "With the addition of this new aircraft the DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 300-G, looking ahead we are excited to announce our plans for further expansion of our services now to North India by offering connectivity to Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab. Our plans include adding Dehra Dun, Pithorgarh, Pantnagar, Hindon, Ludhiana, and Bathinda to our network."

The Indian regional specialist will become the first operator of the DHC-6-400 in India. The ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows that its fleet currently comprises one ATR72-500 and two ATR72-600s. The carrier recently secured an undisclosed strategic investment from Florida-based Royal Bengal Holding Inc.

The only current operator of Twin Otters in India is Saarthi Airways (Delhi International), which operates a single -300 on behalf of the Geological Survey of India (Kolkata).

flybig signed a Letter of Intent for five firm DHC-6-400 orders and five options in 2022. The deal has not been finalised. flybig did not respond to ch-aviation's request for comment if the new commitment would replace last year's LOI.

The DHC-6-300-G is a newly announced variant of the Twin Otter with updated avionics, redesigned cabin interior, increased payload and range, and other improvements.

Photo: Flybig

Flybig order DHC-6-400

De Havilland Aircraft of Canada has announced that Indian carrier flybig has selected the DHC-6-400 for its fleet and has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) for up to ten aircraft. Five will be firm orders, while the remaining five will be options. No details on a delivery timeline have been made public.

flybig, which launched operations in January 2021, will utilize the DHC-6-400s to connect remote locations in India by air. Currently, the airline operates a fleet of one ATR72-500 and one ATR72-600. A second -600 is due shortly.

Illustration by De Havilland

FlyBig (India) was issued a show-cause notice by the Meghalaya government for failing to provide services on the Shillong – Delhi route with Q400 from Spicejet (India).

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