Syrian in the hunt for more ATR turboprops to boost regional growth

Syrian Arab Airlines is in talks with Franco-Italian turboporop manufacturer ATR to buy another two of the 70-seat aircraft.

The airline is still in talks to purchase additional Airbus A320s but is stymied because of sanctions restrictions. Arabian Aerospace understands that it may instead order Tupolev Tu-204 aircraft to renew its fleet if a deal to take Airbus jets fails to materialise.

Syrian has begun weekly flights between Moscow and Aleppo using a Boeing 737 aircraft. The return flight from Moscow stops in Damascus.

The airline took delivery of two ATRs earlier this year which beat sanctions restrictions as they were cancellations for another airline. They are used on routes to destinations destinations including Cairo and Sharm El-Sheikh.

In an interview with Arabian Aerospace magazine Syrian Arab Airlines chief executive Ghaida Abdullati said her fleet had been devastated because of the sanctions and the airline would not fly if safety was compromised. She said the airline has now obtained permission to service the engines of part of its jet fleet and added that she welcomes the US approval to keep the passenger aircraft safely maintained.

There has been no confirmation from ATR about the request for more aircraft although reports suggest that one aircraft has already been identified.