Air Madagascar (MD, Antananarivo) has taken delivery of its first ATR72-600 with 5R-EJA (cn 1239) arriving in Antananarivo on Sunday, March 22. The turboprop is part of a pair the Malagasy national carrier is leasing from Irish lessor, Elix Aviation Capital, with the second due next month.

Air Madagascar has also signed a USD77 million firm order contract with ATR - Avions de Transport Régional (EVX, Toulouse Blagnac) for three more of the type. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2017.

A longtime ATR customer, the carrier also operates an ATR 42-300, an ATR 42-500, and two ATR 72-500s on flights to Antalaha, Antsiranana, Tolanaro, Majunga, Maroantsetra, Morondava, Nosy-Be, Sainte Marie, Sambava, and Tamatave domestically and Dzaoudzi, Moroni International, St. Denis de la Réunion regionally.