Air Astra has taken delivery of its second brand-new ATR 72-600 aircraft, taking the Bangladeshi private carrier’s fleet to five aircraft as it expands its domestic operations.

The aircraft, registered as S2-STE, arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at around 7:30 pm on Wednesday.

The new aircraft is powered by Pratt & Whitney’s latest-generation PW127XT engines and is configured with 72 Geven Neo Prestige seats.

Air Astra said the addition of the aircraft will strengthen its operational capacity and domestic connectivity as demand for air travel within Bangladesh continues to grow.

“The arrival of our second brand-new ATR 72-600 is another proud milestone in Air Astra’s journey,” Air Astra CEO Imran Asif said.

“Reaching a fleet of five aircraft is a testament to the dedication of our team and the continued trust of our passengers and partners. We remain committed to strengthening our fleet, expanding our network and delivering a safe, reliable and comfortable flying experience to our passengers,” he added.

The airline said the new aircraft will support its growing operations and efforts to improve connectivity between key destinations across the country.