Oriental Air Bridge (OC, Nagasaki) has chosen ATR - Avions de Transport Régional to renew its current fleet of three DHC-8-Q200s which collectively average 21 years of age.
In a statement, the Nagasaki-based carrier said it would induct two ATR42-600s the first of which will deliver during 2022. However, given the rigors of the Japanese type induction process, the aircraft is only expected to enter service in 2023 on its island flights from Nagasaki to each of Iki, Fukue, and Tsushima as well as between Fukuoka and Fukue.. The second ATR42 is due to deliver in 2025, it said, at which time it will retire the De Havilland Aircraft of Canada turboprops. The ch-aviation fleets module shows that of the three Q200s, two are owned while a third is leased from Elix Aviation Capital.
OAB said it chose the ATR42 given it is already in service with other Japanese carriers (one ATR42-600 in service with Amakusa Airlines, three with HAC - Hokkaido Air System, and ten with Japan Air Commuter) and that its higher seating capacity (48 seats versus 39) would make it more profitable to operate than the Dash 8s.
Aside from flights to the Tsushima Strait islands, OAB also offers scheduled flights from Fukuoka to Miyazaki and Komatsu.
