News
Region’s infrastructure improvements influenced shutdown of ATR-600S program
November 15th 2024
ATR has ceased development of its Short Take-Off and Landing variant (STOL), the ATR 42-600S, and will focus on boosting the competitiveness of its current product portfolio. Read More » Explaining its decision, the turboprop OEM said airport infrastructure development had been a factor in the cancellation of the program. “In Southeast Asia, for instance, the targeted airports requiring STOL-capable aircraft has significantly decreased, primarily because of runway extensions or the construction of nearby alternative airports. This trend is mirrored in other key target markets. This reduces the addressable market for the ATR 42-600S, but it means our current product line can operate at its full capacity,” an ATR statement said. One airline affected by the decision is Japan’s Toki Air, The Aviation Wire reports. The carrier had planned to operate the ATR42-600S to Sado Airport, which has an 890-meter runway. The airline explained that when taking off and landing on an 800-meter-class runway, the number of passengers aboard the aircraft must be reduced by half, to 22 people with the ATR42-600, but the ATR42-600S was designed to carry up to 48 passengers. “We have received initial notice that development has been canceled, but we have not yet received a detailed explanation from ATR,” Toki Air told The Aviation Wire.
