On August 23, 2024, Avions de Transport Régional (ATR) reached a significant milestone in its corporate history when it delivered the 1.700th aircraft since the start of the program to its long-standing customer, Air Corsica.
This event not only marks an important success for the regional aircraft manufacturer, but also underlines the long-standing partnership and commitment to efficiency and sustainability in regional air transport.
ATR was founded in 1981 as a joint venture between France's Aérospatiale (now part of Airbus) and Italy's Aeritalia (now Leonardo). Since the certification of its first model, the ATR 42-200, in 1985, the company has become a leading manufacturer of regional aircraft. The first ATR 42-200 was delivered to French regional airline Air Littoral in December 1985. In the following years, further milestones were reached, including the delivery of the 500th ATR in 1997, the 1.000th in 2012 and the 1.500th in November 2018 to IndiGo, a major Indian airline.
With the delivery of its 1.700th aircraft to Air Corsica, ATR has once again consolidated its position as a leading provider of regional aircraft. The latest aircraft, an ATR 72-600, is registered F-HXKZ and has the MSN 1698. This delivery marks the complete conversion of Air Corsica's ATR-500 fleet to the latest generation of turboprop aircraft.
Technological advances
The latest generation ATR 72-600 is equipped with Pratt & Whitney PW127XT engines, which bring a significant improvement in efficiency and environmental performance. These engines reduce maintenance costs by 20% and offer at least 3% lower fuel consumption compared to the previous PW127M model. These technological advances help reduce operating costs for Air Corsica while minimising environmental impact.
Marie-Hélène Casanova-Servas, Chair of the Board of Directors of Air Corsica, stressed that the investment in modern aircraft is crucial for the economic vitality of the island of Corsica. The new fleet increases operational efficiency and significantly reduces environmental impact, contributing to a more sustainable future of air transport on the island.
Air Corsica, the fourth largest French airline, currently operates a fleet of 13 aircraft, including seven ATR 72-600s, two Airbus A320-200s and four A320neos. Since its first flight in 1990, the airline has carried more than 42 million passengers. Its route network includes 12 domestic public service routes, 12 non-public domestic routes and 12 international routes, which operate both year-round and seasonally.
The long-standing partnership between Air Corsica and ATR has enabled the airline to continuously modernize its fleet and offer passengers high levels of comfort and reliable services. The recent delivery of the ATR 72-600 with the new engines is a testament to ATR's commitment to further improve regional air transport while offering environmentally friendly solutions.
ATR: A leading manufacturer of regional aircraft
ATR is the leading manufacturer of regional aircraft with the ATR 42 and 72 models and has established itself as one of the most successful providers in the market for aircraft with fewer than 90 seats. In 2023, 160 new routes were opened with ATR turboprop aircraft, which underlines the importance of the aircraft for regional air transport. ATR aircraft are now in service with more than 200 airlines in over 100 countries.
A notable advance was made in January 2022 when ATR flew the first commercial aircraft using 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in both engines. This innovation makes ATR one of the most environmentally friendly manufacturers in the regional aircraft sector, as its aircraft emit 45% less CO2 than comparable regional jets, making them ideal for use in remote and environmentally stressed regions.
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