ATR increases market share in Asia Pacific

Neelam Mathews

Sept 30, 2011

The Asia Pacific region has become the largest market outside Europe for ATR Regional Aircraft, manufacturer of 50-70 seat turboprop airliners. Almost one third of the ATR aircraft currently operating around the world are now based in the Asia Pacific area.

Of the 854 ATR aircraft in service today, 244 –29 percent – are in the Asia Pacific region, stretching in an arc from Pakistan and India, through China, South East and North Asia to Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, says ATR.

In the first nine months of 2011, ATR has booked some 70 additional orders with Asia-Pacific carriers.  Today, Asia Pacific represents more than 110 aircraft in ATR’s backlog, 40% of the total.

“Turboprop aircraft are in strong demand, as airlines around the world seek to increase their short haul services while reducing operating costs,” said John Moore, Head of Sales for ATR Regional Aircraft.

Moore claims ATRs burn significantly less fuel “not only than similar-capacity regional jets, but 30 percent less than our nearest competitor, the Bombardier Q400 turboprop. “

There are currently 175 ATR operators worldwide, 50 of them in based in the Asia Pacific area.

Countries served by ATR aircraft in this region are Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Fiji, French Polynesia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Vanuatu and Vietnam.

One of the newest ATR customers, Australia’s Skywest Airlines, recently took delivery of the first two of eight ATR 72 aircraft, to be flown on Australian regional routes on behalf of Virgin Australia. Skywest has ordered four ATR 72-500s, for delivery this year, and four next-generation ATR 72-600s, to join the carrier next year. It also holds options to acquire five more series 600 aircraft.

The ATR 72-600, the new member of the ATR family, obtained certification in May 2011 from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA.).

The European regional turboprop manufacturer has booked firm orders for 145 aircraft since the beginning of the year  into service. First ATR 72-600s have already entered into service, in August 2011, with Royal Air Maroc (Morocco).

Table 1: Breakdown of orders as of January 1, 2011:

AIRLINE	COUNTRY	AIRCRAFT
Lion Air / Wings Air	Indonesia	18 ATR 72-500s
GECAS	United States	15 ATR 72-600s (+ 15 options)
NAC	Denmark	10 ATR 72-600s 2 ATR 72-500s (+ 10 options)
AZUL	Brazil	10 ATR 72-600s (+ 10 options)
UNI AIR	Taiwan	10 ATR 72-600s
TRIP	Brazil	9 ATR 72-600s (+ 12 options)
Skywest / Virgin Australia	Australia	4 ATR 72-500s 4 ATR 72-600s (+ 5 options)
TAME	Ecuador	3 ATR 42-500s
Israir	Israel	2 ATR 72-500s
MAS / Firefly	Malaysia	2 ATR 72-500s
Air Lease Corporation	United States	2 ATR 72-600s
Taimyr	Russia	2 ATR 42-600s (+ 2 options)
Borajet	Turkey	1 ATR 72-500s
UNDISCLOSED	UNDISCLOSED	47 ATR 72s 4 ATR 42s (+ 18 options)
TOTAL		145 orders  (+ 72 options)