Air Corsica harmonises regional fleet with two additional ATR 72-600
Toulouse – December 18, 2023 –ATR, the world number one regional aircraft manufacturer, and Air Corsica, Corsica’s leading air transport operator, have confirmed a firm order for two ATR 72-600 aircraft placed initially at the Paris Air Show. Air Corsica has completed the full transition of its fleet of ATR -500 series to the latest generation of turboprop aircraft, demonstrating its commitment to operational excellence, regional connectivity and sustainability.
The two aircraft are scheduled for delivery in the first half of 2024, at which time Air Corsica will have fully harmonised its regional fleet. The airline will have seven ATR 72-600 aircraft, powered by the latest PW127XT engines, optimising the reliability, comfort, operating costs and CO2 emissions of its connecting flights between Corsica’s four airports and Nice and Marseille and providing a high-quality public service.
Marie-Hélène Casanova-Servas, President of Air Corsica’s Supervisory Board, said: “This order marks an important turning point for Air Corsica, which places a special focus on sustainable development, Corsican passenger satisfaction and connectivity – regional in particular. By harmonising our fleet around the ATR 72-600 aircraft, we will continue to contribute actively to our island’s economic prosperity, providing our customers with a fast, reliable, economical and socially responsible means of transport.”
Nathalie Tarnaud Laude, Chief Executive Officer of ATR, added: “We are proud to support Air Corsica with its fleet upgrade, and to set together new standards for regional aviation. Air Corsica was the launch customer of the PW127XT engine, and the first ATR operator in the world to integrate USB sockets in all its seats. Through this pioneering spirit that we share, we are sending out a strong message: regional aviation can and must be reliable, low emission, comfortable and connected.”
Air Corsica was the first operator to take delivery of an ATR 72-600 equipped with the new PW127XT engine at the end of 2022, which brought a 20% reduction in maintenance costs and at least a 3% reduction in fuel consumption compared with the PW127M. It generates CO2 emission savings of 45% compared with a similar-size regional jet.
About Air Corsica
Air Corsica is Corsica’s leading airline, it operates 44% of annual traffic (82% in winter) to and from the island’s four airports: Ajaccio, Bastia, Calvi and Figari.
It is the 4th largest company in Corsica with more than 700 employees.
Air Corsica has carried some 42 million passengers since its first flight in 1990, making it France’s 3rd largest airline.
It operates 12 public service domestic routes, 12 non-public service domestic routes and 12 international routes, both year-round and seasonally in the summer, totalling 19,500 flights a year.
Air Corsica has a fleet of 12 aircraft: five ATR 72-600, one ATR 42-500 and six Airbus A320, including two A320neo aircraft.
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About ATR
ATR is the world number one regional aircraft manufacturer with its ATR 42 and 72 aircraft the best-selling aircraft in the less than 90-seat market segment. The unifying vision of the company’s employees is to help everyone, no matter where they are in the world, to connect and develop in a responsible manner. Thanks to the efficiency of turboprop technology and the benefits of the company’s focus on continuous innovation, ATR aircraft open over 130 new routes every year on average, burn 45% less fuel and emit 45% less CO2 than regional jets. For all of these reasons, ATR aircraft have been chosen by some 200 companies in 100 countries around the world. ATR is a joint-venture between Airbus and Leonardo.