Hawaiian adds third ATR 72-200F

Hawaiian Airlines has taken redelivery of a third ATR 72-200F for subsidiary ‘Ohana and deployed the aircraft (432, ex-First Air) in revenue service yesterday, flying from Honolulu (HNL) to Lihue (LIH) [FAT 005060]. All of ‘Ohana’s ATRs are operated by Idaho-based Empire Airlines.

Empire tells Cargo Facts that unit 432, which was inducted for conversion by IPR Conversions at the Empire MRO facility in Coeur d’Alene (COE) last year, went to Roswell (ROW) after conversion to be painted. It then flew to McMinnville (MMV) to be tanked before the nine-hour-long ferry flight to HNL.

See also: Turboprop freighter fleet analysis 2019

‘Ohana began scheduled cargo operations with its first two ATR 72-200Fs (227 and 423) a year ago, flying from HNL to LIH and Hilo (ITO). Hawaiian expects to add a fourth freighter-converted ATR 72 (467, ex-Air Mandalay) in December 2019, or early next year. That aircraft is currently undergoing conversion at the Contact Air Technik facility in Saarbrücken (SCN).

IPR recently redelivered Philippines-based Cebu Pacific’s first ATR 72-500F [FAT 005059].