The world’s leading manufacturer of turboprop passenger planes, ATR admitted on March 30 that it has suffered a hard time over the past three years due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the complex economic and geopolitical environment.
But for the Italian-French company, the lean period has been overcome and this year the company says that “is set for growth”.
Last year, ATR delivered 25 new aircraft in addition to 11 pre-owned turboprops. The company said that the current backlog “stands at a solid 160 aircraft”.
Follow ADN: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
The planemaker controlled by the Airbus and Leonardo groups also celebrated the resumption of activity in the global fleet of its turboprops, which is approaching pre-Covid figures, with 1,200 aircraft flying.
ATR CEO, Nathalie Tarnaud Laude, said the company’s 2023 target is “at least 40 deliveries, with the ambition to ramp up production to 80 aircraft in the coming years“.
“With their unbeatable economics, latest technologies and unrivaled environmental performance, ATR aircraft are what customers need to operate their routes profitably, despite inflation and energy uncertainty. What drives us is that sustainable regional aviation has the power to improve lives globally, providing vital connections to communities and economies, which translates into Gross Domestic Product increases and employment,” added the executive.
ATR milestones in 2022
Last year, the manufacturer reported that 150 new routes were created with ATR turboprops. In 2022, the company also performed the first flight of an ATR 72 fueled with 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), using the new Pratt & Whitney PW127XT engine, which is now certified and in service with the Swedish company Braathens.
The company also pointed out that in 2022 it made important advances with the ATR 42-600S, a variant of the ATR 42-600 turboprop designed to operate on runways less than 1,000 meters long. The manufacturer also started the feasibility study for the EVO concept, a version of the ATR 72 with a hybrid-electric engine.
ATR estimates that the air travel market will require around 1,500 new turboprop aircraft over the next 20 years. With the lack of other products in this category, currently the European manufacturer reigns absolute in this segment, with more than 80% share.
The Dash 8 (ex-Bombardier Q400), from the reborn De Havilland Canada, comes next, but the aircraft had its assembly line suspended.
