Story ID: 
Indonesia’s ATR 72-500s Enter Service
By: Gregory Polek
Caption: Lion Air subsidiary Wings Air last month introduced the first three ATR 72-500s to the Indonesian market.
Word Count: 111
Lion Air subsidiary Wings Air last month introduced the first three ATR 72-500s to the Indonesian market. Wings Air celebrated the milestone with a ceremony  in Manado attended by Indonesian Transportation minister Freddy Numberi and North Sulawesi governor SH Sarundajang.  Plans call for Wings Air to fly the 72-seat turboprops on routes now served by its own aging MD-80s and increase frequencies to destinations served with Lion Air Boeing 737-900ERs. It expects to introduce the remaining 12 of 15 airplanes on firm order this year and next. It also holds an option for 15 ATR 72-600s, now undergoing flight testing in Toulouse, France, and scheduled to enter service next year.