Silver Airways (3M, Fort Lauderdale International) has taken delivery of its first ATR - Avions de Transport Régional turboprop following the arrival of ATR42-600 N400SV (msn 1214) at Orlando International on April 16.

Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows the brand new aircraft was ferried to Florida from Toulouse Blagnac via Gran Canaria, Praia, Natal Aluizio Alves, Cayenne, Fort de France, and San Juan Luis Muñoz Marin between April 13 and 16.

The Floridian carrier signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with the Franco-Italian manufacturer for the acquisition of up to 50 new ATR-600 series aircraft in August last year. Of the 50, 20 were secured by Silver Airways via lease financing. According to Nordic Aviation Capital, the 20 aircraft include sixteen ATR42-600s and four ATR72-600s.

As it stands, schedule data shows Silver Airways expects to begin commercial ATR42 flights on May 23 with service from Orlando Int'l to Huntsville International followed by Freeport International (Bahamas) on June 28. Branson base operations are expected to start from August 30 with service to Chicago O'Hare, Houston Intercontinental, and New Orleans International.

Collectively, the ATRs will replace Silver's current fleet of twenty Saab 340B(Plus) which average 20 years of age.