Japan Air Commuter (JC, Kagoshima) has taken delivery of its first of eight ATR42-600s on firm order from ATR - Avions de Transport Régional (EVX, Toulouse Blagnac).
JA01JC (msn 1215) is in the process of being ferried to Japan where it is expected to arrive later this week.
According to a statement issued by parent firm JAL - Japan Airlines (JL, Tokyo Haneda), JAC will deploy the type into service in late-April on flights from Kagoshima to Fukuoka and Matsuyama as well as the outer Japanese islands of Amami, Kikaiga Shima, Okino Erabu, Tanegashima, Tokunoshima, Yakushima, and Yoronjima.
Under its fleet-renewal agreement placed with the France-based turboprop manufacturer in June 2015, Japan Air Commuter has eight firm ATR42-600s on order with options for one more and fourteen additional purchase rights. Deliveries are to run from 2017 to 2020.
The ch-aviation aircraft database shows JAC currently operates nine Dash 8-400s and nine Saab 340Bs (two standard and seven Plus variants).
