AirBorneo Places Firm Order for Eight ATR Aircraft to Modernise Malaysia’s Rural Air Services Fleet

AirBorneo and ATR have announced a strategic partnership to renew and modernise Malaysia’s Rural Air Services (RAS) fleet, with the airline confirming a firm order for eight new ATR aircraft.

The agreement includes five ATR 72‑600s and three ATR 42‑600s, along with purchase rights for four additional aircraft. Deliveries are scheduled to take place between 2027 and 2029.

The order represents a key step in AirBorneo’s transition into Sarawak’s state‑owned carrier and its assumption of responsibility for the RAS network, which provides essential connectivity to remote and underserved communities across Sarawak, Sabah and Labuan. The deal was finalised in late 2025 as part of the airline’s long‑term fleet renewal plan following the Sarawak government’s acquisition of MASwings and its rebranding as AirBorneo.

AirBorneo currently operates eight ATR 72‑500s inherited from MASwings. The introduction of the newer ATR 42‑600 and ATR 72‑600 models will form the core of the airline’s future RAS operations, offering improved efficiency, reliability and capability for short‑haul regional flying. The aircraft are equipped with updated avionics, modern navigation systems and enhanced cabin features, and can also support medical stretcher missions, a key requirement for rural operations in Borneo.

The combination of ATR 42 and ATR 72 aircraft gives AirBorneo the flexibility to match capacity to varying route demands while maintaining the operational commonality of a single aircraft family. The agreement’s purchase rights also provide scope for future expansion beyond the RAS network, including potential growth within the Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area.