News Backgrounder
ATR facing most challenging time in its history as it turns 40
October 1st 2021
With anticipation building for ATR’s 40th anniversary celebrations next month, the turboprop manufacturer is ensuring the occasion will be special with the announcement of a world first customer-centric digitized initiative designed to support the digitalizing of the industry in the post-pandemic era. Read More »
On October 7, ATR unveiled its latest addition to its client services suite. The cutting edge Customer Experience Studio, at its Toulouse headquarters, is bringing stakeholders as well as aircraft buyers into the studio environment either remotely or in person.
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Equipped with seven cameras, a high performance sound system, touch screens and virtual reality devices, ATR said it is the first of its kind in the aeronautical industry.
The fully connected studio offers, through a series of interactive digital experiences, “a fully customisable and comprehensive touch and feel tour” of the company’s products with a key focus of lower emissions, ATR said.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has deeply transformed our lives, however it also has acted as a catalyst in the transmission to new innovative ways of connecting to our customers and stakeholders,” ATR CEO, Stefano Bortoli, said at the launch of the new facility.
“With this digital-first approach it will show, not tell, how ATR plays a leading role in regional aviation.”
The joint venture between Italian and French aerospace manufacturers was unveiled on November 4, 1981. In the following four decades, the company has grown from its maiden flight of an ATR 42 200 (42 seats) in August 1984 to the best-selling regional aircraft manufacturer in the world.
The company has delivered more than 1,500 of its ATR family aircraft to 200 airlines in 100 countries, facilitating the opening of 2,095 routes, the OEM said.
Its twin engine up to 90 seat aircraft are popular with airline customers because of their superior fuel efficiency, compared with regional jets, and an ability to operate to short runway destinations often in remote locations.
Until the global outbreak of COVID-19, ATR was adding Asia-Pacific airlines to its client list with several hundred ATR family aircraft flying in the region.
Major Asia-Pacific customers in recent years have been Lion Group’s Wings Air, Malindo Air, and when being operated, Thai Lion Air. Other ATR airline customers in the region have included Air New Zealand, Bangkok Airways, Cebu Pacific’s domestic arm, Cebgo, Indian LCC, IndiGo, and Malaysia’s Firefly.
“In 1981, our goal was just as it is today: to provide regional connectivity to communities around the world. Now more than ever, our eco-responsible aircraft and dedicated teams are realising their unique values and purpose. Connecting more people, businesses and remote communities than ever before, helping them to create opportunities and transforming lives around the world,” the OEM, now jointly owned by Airbus and Leonardo, said.
“Who would have thought when we started out that our aircraft could have made such an impact? So this year, let’s celebrate 40 years of collaboration, connectivity, innovation, sustainability, excellence, expertise, opportunity and advancement. We call it 40 years of making a difference.”
| Major ATR milestones November 1984: Cooperation agreement between Aeritalia and Aerospatiale to launch the ATR 42. August 1984: ATR 42 makes maiden flight and is certified by European regulators to fly in September 1985. December 1985: launch customer Air Littoral receives first ATR 42. October 1989: Finnair accepts the first ATR 72 (72 seats) after its initial test flight in October 1988 and French certification in the following September. First flights of the ATR 42-500 and the ATR 72-500, respectively, in September 1994 and January 1996. October 2007: ATR announces launch of ATR-600 series with Air Maroc receiving the first -600 in August 2011 followed in 2012 with the delivery of the first ATR 42-600 to Tanzania’s Precision Air Services. February 2017: ATR and Braathens Regional Airlines conduct first Sustainable Aviation Fuel flight. November 2017: ATR launches the ATR 72-600F, the first purpose-built regional freighter. Three years later, the first of the type was delivered. October 2019: ATR unveils the ATR 42-600S Short Take-off and Landing program. September 2021: ATR partners with Braathens Regional Airlines and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) manufacturer, Neste, to achieve a 75% SAF demonstration flight in 2020 to produce anticipated emissions reductions of 64%. |
