Papua New Guinea carrier orders more ATRs

February 14th 2020

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Papua New Guinea-based PNG Air plans to add three short take-off and landing (STOL) ATR turboprops to its fleet. Read More »

The order for three ATR 42-600S aircraft was announced at the Singapore Airshow this week.

ATR said PNG Air would be the launch customer for the 42-600S, which it began developing in 2017 and officially launched in late 2019.

PNG Air became an ATR operator in 2015, when it took delivery of its first 72-600. Currently, the airline has seven ATR aircraft in its fleet. It also operates de Havilland Dash 8-100 aircraft, which will gradually be replaced with ATR equipment.

PNG Air chief executive, Paul Abbot, said the airline had gone from "strength to strength" since it started flying the ATR, noting the type burned about 40 per cent less fuel and emitted 40 per cent less CO₂ than similar sized regional jets.

"When looking at options to replace our existing STOL fleet, the ATR-600 family’s maintenance costs and commonality were hugely attractive," Abbot said in a statement.

"This commonality will lead to greater efficiency in terms of both spare parts and pilot training.

"We are also looking forward to introducing passengers travelling to and from our destinations with short runways to the comfort of the modern ATR -600 series cabin.”

Toulouse-based ATR, which is jointly owned by Airbus and Leonardo, offers the ATR 42-600 (46-50 seats) and the ATR 72-600 (68-78 seats). It has forecast demand for 1,200 turboprops in the 30-50 seat category in the next two decades.

ATR chief executive, Stefano Bortoli, said the STOL turboprop was an "important solution for the regional aviation market". "Without a viable STOL replacement PNG Air’s passengers would face significant challenges to their way of life," he said.

"As a successful airline, PNG Air have shown that they understand the importance of these links to their passengers and the communities that they serve.”