#atr72

ATR 72-600 Binter Canarias operated by Canair

Registration: EC-MTQ Named: Virgen de La Candelaria Type: 72-600 (-212A) Engines: 2 × PWC PW127M Serial Number: 1469 First flight: Nov 20, 2017

Binter Canarias S.A., or simply Binter, was born in 1988 when Spanish giant Iberia decided it was time to launch a subsidiary for flights between the Canary Islands. The first flight took off on March 26, 1989. Back then, there were no sleek turboprop ATRs or fancy Embraer E-2 jets. They flew CASA CN-235s — sturdy workhorses that looked more like propeller-driven delivery vans. There were four of them, connecting Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Fuerteventura, and La Palma. But in 1990, the first ATR 72 joined the fleet — and that’s when Binter found its true star. Over time, the CASA planes faded into history, while ATRs multiplied to eleven by 1999, becoming Binter’s calling card.

The fleet kept evolving. At one point, four McDonnell Douglas DC-9s showed up. Then, in 2007, Binter made a bold move with three Bombardier CRJ1000s, becoming one of the first in Europe to operate them, though those later left the fleet. There was also a brief fling with a Boeing 737-400, but it didn’t stick around long.

The star of our poster is the ATR 72-600, a tough little plane built for short hops. Binter has 26 of these in service, perfect for island-hopping between Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and La Gomera. Onboard, they don’t go overboard with luxury, but they’re not stingy either. On short flights, you might get some nuts or water, and the crew’s always got a smile — that’s their thing, or so they say. Seats aren’t assigned, so show up early, grab a window seat, and soak in the view of volcanoes from above.

Santorini