Franco-Italian aircraft manufacturer ATR has used the Paris Air Show to announce orders for 22 aircraft from eight separate customers.
The bumper order was announced on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, at a press conference where Mandarin Airlines, Berjaya Air and Brazilian carrier Azul were named among the customers.
The other five customers’ identities have not been revealed, but ATR confirmed the deals announced were all for purchases of the 42-600 and 72-600 aircraft.
Describing itself as the “world’s number one regional aircraft manufacturer”, ATR reported a “clear upward trend and solid market appeal for both models of its family of low-emission, comfortable and versatile turboprops with unbeatable economics”.
In the press conference, Nathalie Tarnaud Laude, ATR’s CEO, confirmed that Mandarin Airlines ordered six ATR 72-600 and Azul secured three ATR 72-600, plus options for two additional aircraft.
Two ATR 72-600 ordered by Berjaya Air will use a premium configuration for a sole business class aircraft.
Eight ATR 72-600 were purchased by three undisclosed customers and three ATR 42-600 from two undisclosed customers.
“These new aircraft orders demonstrate clear recovery signs from South-East Asia, traditionally one of ATR’s largest markets. We are confident that, in due time, the efficiency of our product offering, the lack of second-hand aircraft available and traffic exceeding pre-covid levels in certain areas of the globe will induce a need for low-emission and versatile aircraft to support regional operators’ plans of both fleet replacement and growth,” Tarnaud Laude said.
In addition, despite continued tensions on the supply chain, the manufacturer is on track to achieve its 40+ delivery objective for 2023.
ATR forecasts demand for 2,450 turboprops in the next 20 years, a significant part of which will be freighters.
The Mandarin Airlines order will be delivered from the end of 2023 through to 2025 and will join the airline’s existing fleet of nine ATR 72-600 to serve the demand of the Taiwanese market.
Berjaya’s two new aircraft will enable it to rebrand itself into a premium offering and to expand its network to serve the carrier’s many resorts and hotels.