Industry ATR outlines plan for recovery in 2021 and beyond

French aircraft manufacturer ATR has released its plans for the time after the COVID-19 crisis. The manufacturer seeks to emerge stronger from the crisis by strengthening its overall global presence with sustainable and modern products.

To absorb the financial shock that occurred due to the COVID-19 crisis, the manufacturer quickly decided to offer freight conversion solutions as more and more airlines seeked to enter the air freight market over the course of the rising e-commerce traffic.

Stefano Bortoli, CEO of ATR, said: “2020 has been a challenging year for the travel industry, and we will not see an improvement until the end of the current year. However, the vital connectivity that regional air travel has offered throughout the crisis, have made the ATR more attractive for Europe and North America, while turboprops remain the best choice for several underserved regions, where land infrastructure is not a practical choice, in Asia, Latin America and Africa.”

In the last year, ATR was able to confirm only six gross orders and 10 aircraft deliveries. Many airlines have been financially hit due to the travel restrictions imposed by governments all over the world. However, ATR welcomed nine new operators and saw the opening of 84 routes with ATR aircraft.

The plan for this year and the followings years is it, to implement improvements into the aircraft family. Operational efficiency could be enhanced, and maintenance costs reduced through system upgrades and modern avionics.

The introduction of the ATR 42-600 short take-off and landing variant for example will open up a new range of opportunities of airlines that operate to and from airports between 800 and 1000m high.

Last December, ATR delivered the first purpose-built ATR 72-600F aircraft to FedEx. ATR plans to build on that milestone by receiving and delivering new orders. The manufacturer seeks air cargo to double its capacity in the next 20 years.

„Around 900 ageing regional turboprop will need to be replaced in the next years, and a more sustainable, cost-efficient and modern aircraft like the ATR can ensure profitability for its operators,“ ATR concluded its plans.