ACIA Aero Leasing, a provider of regional aircraft leasing and lease management services, leased its first aircraft to a Canada-based airline customer, as Canadian North took delivery of one ATR 72-500 (ATR 72F) Bulk Freighter from the lessor in January.

The ATR 72F, fitted with the IPR conversions kit, was converted in Toulouse, France, and will be operated under the Canadian North banner, supporting the Inuit-owned airline’s operations on its route system that serves the cargo needs of more northern communities.

“Canadian North is a world-class operator, and we are delighted to welcome them to our growing customer family,” Elze Le Roux, senior vice president of leasing & customer relationships at ACIA Aero Leasing, said. “We are excited to be working together in support of the airline’s strategic approach to increasing operational efficiencies and accelerating the growth of its cargo business.”

“The introduction of the ATR 72F aircraft type is a significant step in our long-term fleet plan. We need a robust cargo aircraft that can perform in challenging Arctic operating conditions,” Michael Rodyniuk, president and CEO of Canadian North, said. “ACIA has delivered a solution with the IPR Conversions kit installed and ready to take on the task. This is a great solution for our operation and the communities we serve across our vast northern network.”

“With ACIA’s first aircraft leased into Canada, this delivery marks a significant milestone in our platform’s growth,” Mick Mooney, CEO of ACIA Aero Leasing, said “There is a robust demand for the ATR 72F in the market, particularly configured with the IPR Conversions kit. We continue to focus on this variant of the ATR 72 Family aircraft as a core part of our portfolio growth strategy.”