KUALA LUMPUR: Firefly is increasing its turboprop fleet with the purchase of three additional ATR72-500s, two of which will be delivered in December 2010 and the third in January 2011.

Entry into service will be one month from delivery date. The new addition will bring Firefly's total turboprop fleet size to 10.

Firefly is operated under FlyFirefly Sdn Bhd and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Malaysian Airline System Bhd.

In a statement Aug 24, Firefly said the additional aircraft will be used to strengthen its current network footprint through increased frequency for high demand sectors and reinstatement of some Penang based routes that were previously suspended as a result of a network rationalisation that was carried out in the first quarter of 2009 due to unfavourable economic conditions.

Firefly managing director Datuk Eddy Leong said that on top of the three aircraft, Firefly was negotiating for additional four ATR72-500s to be delivered in 2011/12 to fuel its expansion into more secondary routes.

Firefly received its first ATR72-500 aircraft on Aug 11, 2008 and has since been operating with 7 brand new ATR72-500s serving 19 destinations from its hubs in Subang and Penang.

Firefly's routes cover both business and leisure destinations in Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatera and Thailand.