ATR: the reference in regional aviation
The Franco-Italian aircraft manufacturer holds two thirds of the order book for regional aircraft with up to 90 seats – a market dominated by turboprops.
During a press conference held this morning at the Farnborough International Airshow, Filippo Bagnato, ATR’s Chief Executive Officer, affirmed ATR’s leading position in the market segment for regional aircraft with up to 90 seats. With over 200 aircraft in its backlog, the turboprop manufacturer is in fact now responsible for two thirds of all regional aircraft to be delivered in the 50- to 90-seater range.
Filippo Bagnato stated, “The aviation market is becoming increasingly segmented. Turboprop aircraft with up to 90 seats are occupying an ever more dominant market position and ATR is well ahead of the pack. Propeller-driven aircraft now represent 80% of the order book for planes with up to 90 seats. As far as regional jets are concerned, their operating costs are higher than those of propeller-driven aircraft and their sales are progressively focusing on higher-capacity planes. We are seeing a more and more significant leaning towards turboprop technology for the future of regional aviation in the 90-seater and under category."
He added, “Not only is the number of operators on the rise, but the average size of their ATR fleets is also continually growing, which goes to show how attractive our aircraft have become. Airlines operating in highly buoyant markets such as Brazil, Indonesia and Russia are currently developing their short-haul routes around the operational benefits that ATR aircraft bring, and ordering them in tens. Today, these aircraft are the ideal complement to a fleet for airlines operating medium-haul routes, flying to hubs and opening up regions which have up to now been little or poorly served."
He concluded, “We have just obtained certification for the ATR 42-600. Along with the ATR 72-600, in service since last year, they make up the family of regional aircraft with fewer than 90 seats having most recently been granted EASA certification. These state-of-the-art aircraft are equipped with the very latest technological innovations, both in terms of navigation tools and passenger comfort. The ATR -600’s have not only proven to be a commercial success, they have also become the new reference in regional aviation.”
During this press conference, Filippo Bagnato also announced the sales figures since the beginning of the year, totaling 24 aircraft (23 ATR 72-600s and 1 ATR 42-600). See Table 1 for breakdown of orders since January 1st 2012.
| AIRLINE | COUNTRY | AIRCRAFT |
| TransAsia Airways | Taiwan | 8 ATR 72-600s |
| Lao Airlines | Laos | 2 ATR 72-600s |
| Air Lease Corporation (ALC) | United States | 2 ATR 72-600s |
| Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC) | Denmark | 1 ATR 42-600 |
| Undisclosed customer | Undisclosed | 11 ATR 72-600s |
About ATR:
Founded in 1981, ATR has become the world leader on the market for regional aircraft with 90 seats or less. Since its creation, ATR has sold approximately 1,200 aircraft to 180 operators based in 91 countries. ATR planes have totaled over 21 million flight hours. ATR is an equal partnership between two major European aeronautics players, Alenia Aermacchi (a Finmeccanica Group company) and EADS. Its head office is in Toulouse. ATR is ISO 14001 certified. This is the international reference standard in the field for environmental friendliness.
For additional information, log on to www.atraircraft.com.
You can also keep up with ATR via its official page on Youtube: ATRbroadcast
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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.