Niger Airlines (6N, Niamey) has denied acquiring an ATR72-200 TS-LBC (msn 281) from Tunisair Express (UG, Tunis).

Tunisair chief executive Ilyes Mnakbi told Arabian Aerospace last month the acquisition has been agreed as part of a wider-ranging renewal of its Express fleet's two ATR72-500s and a CRJ900.

However, the Nigerien carrier's chief executive, Abdul Aziz Larabou, has since denied Mnakbi's claims stating that while there was an attempt to acquire the aircraft back in 2015, those talks fell through with no deal reached.

"We preferred the ATR72-500 which is more modern," he told ch-aviation in an emailed statement. "We are currently in talks with new partners to acquire one."

Niger Airlines currently relies on Fokker 50 equipment wet-leased from Palestinian Airlines (PNW, Al Arish). It currently uses the Fokker Aircraft to run regular passenger flights throughout Niger connecting Niamey, Agadez, and Zinder.

Larabou said last year he intended to use the ATR - Avions de Transport Régional turboprops to open up regional flights to Accra, Bamako, Cotonou Cadjehoun, Dakar Blaise Diagne International, Lomé, N'Djamena, and Ouagadougou once delivered.