Air Tahiti signed a firm order for one ATR 72-600 and confirmed a deal for two ATR 42-600S signed in 2019.
“Air Tahiti has been supporting the social and economic development of French Polynesia for 65 years, offering its local communities a quick and affordable access to fresh produce, health, education and culture, whilst also boosting tourism,” Manate Vivish, Air Tahiti’s General Manager, stated in a press release. ”Our ATR fleet has been instrumental in allowing us to achieve this essential mission, and will continue to be as we keep growing and offering further sustainable connectivity.”
According to its website, Air Tahiti operates a fleet of 7 ATR-72, 2 ATR-42, and 3 Beechcraft King Air B200. The French airline will become the launch customer of the ATR 42-600S. The aircraft, whose “S” stands for Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL), allows for take-offs and landings on 800-meter (2,600-feet) runways only, with 40 passengers on board.
ATR officially launched the ATR 42-600S at the Paris Air Show 2019. The Franco-Italian regional aircraft manufacturer started test flights earlier in May 2022. The first deliveries are expected for the end of 2024.