Following an extensive market review and in light of lingering tensions on its supply chain, ATR has decided to focus efforts on further boosting the competitiveness of its current product portfolio. As a consequence, ATR will stop the development of its Short Take-Off and Landing variant (STOL), the ATR 42-600S, reflecting the company’s commitment to aligning operations with evolving market dynamics.
The comprehensive review of market conditions, technological advancements and future projections shows a reduced addressable market for the variant compared to the initial forecast. In Southeast Asia, for instance, the number of targeted airports requiring STOL-capable aircraft has significantly decreased, primarily because of runway extensions or the construction of nearby alternative airports, and this trend is mirrored in other key target markets. While this reduces the addressable market for the ATR 42-600S, it means that our current product line can operate at its full capacity.
Nathalie Tarnaud Laude, ATR’s Chief Executive Officer, stated: “As a global leader on the regional market, ATR has a responsibility towards its customers, stakeholders and the industry at large to continuously evaluate its product portfolio to meet market demand. The decision to halt the STOL project reflects our dedication to operational efficiency and long-term sustainability.”
This strategic endeavour will enable ATR to shift efforts towards enhancing existing product lines, advancing technological innovation, and addressing emerging market demands more effectively. This includes further breaking into North America, where the manufacturer is looking to replace ageing fleets of regional jets and boost point-to-point regional connections.
“We are now entering the next phase of growth and improvement where we will focus on further investing in the competitiveness of our market-leading products, the ATR 42-600 and 72-600. Delivering strong value propositions to regional airlines has always been central to our success. This commitment is the reason why our aircraft have remained industry leaders and a trusted choice for our customers over the past 40 years and continues to be our driving force for what lies ahead.” she added.
She continued: “As part of this commitment, we have identified a series of product improvements which aim at further reducing the costs of operations and increasing the availability of our aircraft. These improvements directly reflect the needs and insight shared with our customers. To achieve these goals, we are working closely with our key suppliers and have developed comprehensive action plans to drive progress on these enhancements. This step is essential to maintain our competitive edge, as well as our position as a trusted partner to our customers, operators and stakeholders worldwide.”
About ATR
ATR is the world number one regional aircraft manufacturer with its ATR 42 and 72, the best-selling aircraft in the below 90-seat market segment. The unifying vision of the company is to accelerate sustainable connections for people, communities and businesses, no matter how remote. Flown by some 200 airlines in over 100 countries, ATR aircraft opened 160 new routes in 2023, facilitating the development of territories and enabling access to crucial services like healthcare and education. Thanks to ATR’s focus on continuous innovation and the intrinsic efficiency of the turboprop technology, ATR aircraft are the most advanced, versatile, cost-effective and lowest-emission regional aircraft on the market, emitting 45% less CO2 than similar-size regional jets. In January 2022, we flew the first ever commercial aircraft using 100% SAF in both engines. ATR is a joint-venture between Airbus and Leonardo.
Featured image credited to istock.com/JakeOlimb
