Israeli operator Israir has signed a binding agreement to sell a pair of ATR 72-500s, which will leave it with an all-Airbus A320 fleet.
The carrier says it sealed the agreement on 29 December, adding that they will be transferred to a “foreign airline”, without elaborating on its identity.
Israir says the purchase transaction will amount to $13 million.
Completion of the sale remains subject to a series of customary conditions, including obtaining legal approvals, conducting inspections and test flights.
Israir says the deadline for completion is 28 February. The agreement includes commitment from the buyer to hand over deposits.
The airline is intending to retrain its ATR 72 pilots to convert them to the A320.
It will have six of the twinjets in its fleet once the turboprops are gone. Israir says the fleet re-organisation has the potential to improve the carrier’s efficiency.
Israir is expecting to receive another A320 this year, taking the fleet to seven, and is also likely to use wet-lease agreements to meet demand.
