Elevating ATR’s Presence in the US Skies

Advocating the need to reboost US regional air connections, ATR had the pleasure of being a Diamond Sponsor in an exclusive event in Washington DC this week organised by the Regional Airline Association (RAA), the 2024 RAA Leaders Conference. This strategic move is part of ATR’s broader ambition to support and enhance regional air connectivity across the United States, a market that has seen a steady decline in regional routes over the past two decades.

ATR’s President and Managing Director, Americas, Christopher Jones, was a key speaker, addressing regional airline CEOs, purchasing officials, influential aviation representatives, and policymakers on the benefits turboprops can bring in unlocking the potential that regional air transportation can bring in the US.

Key messages included:

• Essential role regional aviation plays in meeting the travel needs of US communities and the social and economic benefits it can bring (studies show that a 10% increase in regional flights can generate a 6% increase in GDP, 5% increase in tourism and 8% increase in foreign direct investment).
• The need to regenerate regional air travel in the US which has been steadily declining for many years. – More than 800 regional routes have been cancelled since 2000, largely driven by a shortage of pilots and an ageing fleet of regional jets.
• Potential for a turboprop renaissance in the US as modern, comfortable, reliable turboprops , with their ability to operate on shorter runways and test new markets, are ideal to reopen regional routes and increase connectivity.
• The economics of the ATR aircraft in terms of low fuel burn and maintenance costs make it a profit maker for operators and a perfect replacement for ageing regional US fleets. By replacing 50-seater regional jet with an ATR you will lower fuel burn and CO2 emissions by at least 30%.
• With ageing fleets (the youngest RJ50 is over 15 years old) and lack of regional air connections, we are seeing an increased use of cars and buses for long journeys by the US population reducing the efficiency of the US transport ecosystem. For example, the are no direct flights between Richmond VA and Pittsburg PA, the overland journey of 370 miles takes 6.5 hours by car, 8 hours by bus and 11 hours by train, whereas it would be less than a 1.5 hour ATR flight!

ATR aircraft provide an excellent business case, offering the lowest cost per trip and unmatched fuel efficiency compared to similar-size regional jets.

With its fleet of 14 ATRs, Miami-based Silver Airways has been transforming regional air travel in the US over the past five years by offering comfortable and reliable direct flights to short and medium-haul leisure and business destinations for the people of Southeastern US, The Bahamas and the Caribbean and aims to expand its operations throughout the US and internationally.

ATR is committed to raising awareness of the benefits regional air connections can make for the economy and the communities of the US and is adamant that turboprops are the answer to reboosting regional connectivity in the US now and in the future.