Precision Air adds another ATR to its fleet

By Philip Mwakio

Tanzania’s premier private airline, Precision Air has added a sixth ATR brand aircraft to its fleet.

The official handover ceremony is slated for Tolouse, France, home of the ATRs.

Precision Air Group Managing Director and CEO Alfonse Kioko, said in a statement preparations to ensure documentation is in place have been completed.

"The registration number for the new aircraft will be 5-H PWF, with the name Bukoba," Kioko said.

Like other aircrafts in the fleet, it will feature inflight entertainment that allows passengers to watch movies and listen to music.

The aircraft has a capacity to carry 48 passengers.

"We have christened it Bukoba in recognition of the business support we enjoy from people in that region. In the recent past, we launched aircrafts and named them Kigoma, Zanzibar, Mwanza, Musoma to mention but a few," the CEO said.

Big deal

Precision Air Corporate Communications manager Annete Nkini, said that in 2006, the airline and ATR signed a $129 million deal to deliver seven brand new aircrafts.

The first aircraft was delivered in March 2008 and the second one in November.

The third and fourth arrived in April and July last year.

Under the terms, ATR is required to deliver two aircrafts each for the first two years and three in the final year. The final aircraft will be delivered in September.

This financing deal for the aircrafts (two ATR 42-500s and 5 ATR 72-500s) has attracted two international awards.

On April 20 last year, Airfinance Journal awarded the $129 million structured finance lease — Africa Deal of the Year 2008 at the 10th annual deals of the year awards dinner ceremony held in New York.

The authoritative James Transport Finance magazine followed suit when it named Precision Air the 2008 Aircraft leasing Deal of the year in Africa.

Precision Air, which also operates a Boeing 737, has continued to offer increased air connectivity within Zanzibar and Tanzania mainland.

It flies to Mombasa’s Moi International Airport, Jomo Kenyatta and Entebbe in Uganda.