Airlines Tunisair Express orders three ATR 72-600

The European manufacturer confirmed the firm order in an official release. Tunisair Express will receive a total of three ATR 72-600s, which will see the airline boosting its regional fleet and overall connectivity. Tunisair Express hopes to deploy the aircraft both on domestic and international services.

Tunisair Express Director General, Yosr Chouari, said: “We have had a long and strong partnership with ATR since the early 1990s, and we are pleased to introduce the modern ATR 72-600 into our fleet thanks to the support of the Tunisian Government and parent company Tunisair. When deciding on a fleet renewal strategy, it was clear that the combination of its unbeatable economics and most eco-responsible performance made the ATR the best choice for our regional network. Furthermore, we are sure that our passengers will greatly appreciate the modern, spacious cabin with its widest-in-class seats and the new cutting edge Cabinstream™ technology giving our passengers an exceptional on-board experience.”

ATR Chief Executive Officer, Stefano Bortoli, added: “The decision of Tunisair Express for three new ATR 72-600s is a further endorsement of our product and validates our policy of continuous development. With a dispatch reliability of 99.7%, its effectiveness in hot conditions, and its performance perfectly suited to the operations envisaged by Tunisair, the ATR is the ideal aircraft to continue supplying essential connectivity throughout Tunisia and beyond its borders.”

Recently, ATR published a report in which the manufacturer stated that over the next 20 years, 350 new turboprops are needed for the Africa and Middle-East region. Regional aviation would be the essential player for connectivity around the world, because it allows airlines to fly to smaller towns and destinations.

ATR sees a 10% increase in regional flights, which also generate an additional 5% in tourism, 6% in regional GDP and 8% in foreign direct investment. The manufacturer also claimed that turboprops are key in connecting communities. 36% of all commercial airports rely on turboprops and 50% on regional aircraft overall.

The ATR 72-600 is one of the market leading turboprop aircraft. It allows airlines to perform flights while burning 40% less fuel and emitting 40% less CO2 when compared to other regional jets. The cabin, according to ATR, will introduce the best onboard experience to Tunisair Express passengers. The additional multimedia and connectivity features make it a state-of-the-art aircraft.

Tunisair Express is a wholly-owned subsidiary airline from Tunisair. Since March 1992, Tunisair Express serves the Tunisian domestic network and nearby international destinations. Every year, the carrier transports over 300,000 passengers with a fleet of two ATR 72s and one Bombardier CRJ900.