DALLAS — China Airlines (CA) regional subsidiary in Taiwan, Mandarin Airlines (AE), and ATR have announced the signing of a firm order for another ATR 72-600 twin turboprop aircraft.

The agreement follows the order for six ATR 72-600 placed at last year’s Paris Air Show. According to the Franco-Italian aircraft manufacturer, the additional aircraft will be delivered in the first quarter of 2026, ahead of the peak season. 

ATR has already delivered three of the six aircraft from the previous order, and deliveries of the following three will occur in the third and fourth quarters of 2025.

Operating primarily from its central hub at Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA), AE plays a pivotal role in Taiwan’s domestic network, offering essential connections to eight key destinations, including the islands of Kinmen, Penghu, and Matsu.

The new turboprop will complement the airline’s existing fleet of 12 ATR 72-600.

Comments from Mandarin Airlines, ATR Executives

Chairman of Mandarin Airlines, Kao Shing-Hwang, expressed his enthusiasm for the fleet expansion: “The addition of this new ATR 72-600 underscores our confidence in ATR as the preferred platform to serve the island’s domestic markets responsibly. The turboprop’s exceptional fuel efficiency, low operating costs and reliability make it the perfect choice to strengthen our current routes and explore new services to further stimulate the local economy and tourism sector across Taiwan.”

Nathalie Tarnaud Laude, Chief Executive Officer of ATR, added, “Mandarin Airlines has been consistently unlocking new opportunities for the Taiwanese communities in a responsible and cost-effective manner over the past seven years. We are grateful for their continued trust in ATR’s capabilities, which stands as a testament to the relevance of our product for their operations, and are strongly committed to providing them with continuous support, ensuring reliable and profitable operations long into the future.”

The AE order comes three days after ATR delivered the second ATR 72-600 to start-up Israeli carrier Air Haifa (HFA), which is currently in the throes of expanding operations amid the ongoing regional conflict.