Brazilian carrier Passaredo Linhas Aéreas has signed an order for ten ATR 72-600s with ten options in a deal worth $450 million.

The carrier had previously entered into an agreement with Air Lease Corporation to acquire four ATR 72-600s, and took delivery of the first today in Toulouse.

Passaredo will introduce the four leased aircraft and the ten firm purchased aircraft into its fleet progressively in 2012, 2013 and 2014. It will also begin operating two leased ATR 72-500s this year, says ATR.

The carrier was an all Embraer ERJ-145 operator before adding the ATRs to its fleet.

Passaredo recently signed an interline agreement with Brazilian carrier Gol, which will see Gol adding new destinations to its network. Passaredo currently operates to 26 Brazilian destinations on 104 routes.

"With the arrival of these new 70-seat ATRs, Passaredo will progressively add passenger capacity and substantially reduce seat-costs on its regional network," says ATR.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news