Pacific markets feature in global reserugence of Turboprop Airliners

Thursday 15th May, 2008

The worldwide resurgence in the popularity of turboprop airliners during 2007 resulted in record sales for ATR Regional Aircraft, with 113 sales of new ATR42-500 and ATR72-500 aircraft. That trend has continued in the first quarter of 2008, with two of the year’s first deals being milestone sales to carriers serving the Pacific Islands region - the first ATR72-500 for Air Vanuatu and the 25th ATR sale to a long-standing customer, Air Tahiti.

These key deals have increased to more than 30 the number of ATR passenger planes in service or on order across the Pacific, and reaffirmed both the versatility and the popularity of the ATR family as the turboprop aircraft of choice in the region.The orders also coincide with the commencement by ATR of a global marketing campaign for the next version of its regional airliner family, the -600 variant, which offers significantly improved performance to and from short airfields and higher revenue payload in so-called “hot and high” conditions, where hot climates and high altitudes can impact aircraft performance.

The ATR -600 series will feature a newest-generation full “glass” cockpit, developed by Thales, and enabling enhanced operational capabilities, including Cat III A and RNP approach and landing, as well as a further reduction in the aircraft maintenance and operating costs. “Turboprop aircraft are crucial not only to the airlines of the Pacific, but to the economies of Pacific nations, which demand reliable and economical air services,” said Laurent Negre, Sales Director Australia and South Pacific for ATR. “The Pacific region is characterised by operations to secondary airfields with short runways and limited infrastructure, but also low levels of yields and traffic making it very difficult to justify the economic operation of a larger jet aircraft, ” said Mr Negre. “This market also features a significant number of long overwater flights both on domestic interisland services and regional international flights - missions best suited to turboprop aircraft such as our ATR 72-500, which exclusively features 120 minute ETOPS certification,” he said.

The Pacific is also renowned for its diverse and pristine environments, from tropical Tahiti and Fiji to New Zealand’s spectacular alpine regions. Thanks to their modern and optimised propulsion, both the ATR 42-500 and the larger ATR 72-500 are the most environment-friendly aircraft in the regional market, with, for example the ATR72 consuming as little as half of the fuel used by a similar-sized regional jet. By comparison, a regional jet emits at least 50% more CO2 into the atmosphere on every flight.

“That we are continuing to receive orders for our aircraft in this region after more than two decades of service is a major vote of confidence in the ATR family of aircraft,” said Mr Negre. “It is also a strong endorsement of our ability to evolve our aircraft over this period to continue delivering high efficiency, low cost operations for our customers, and environmentally responsible transport solutions for the communities that our aircraft serve. Our current family of aircraft are very popular with airlines throughout the Pacific, and we are confident that the - 600 variant - which is being offered now for entry into service from late 2010 - will deliver even greater efficiency, flexibility and cost savings for operators.”

The latest order by Air Tahiti takes to 12 the number of ATR aircraft which the airline operates or is planning to introduce. Currently, the Papeete-based carrier has five ATR 72-500s and four ATR 42-500s in service on its vast intra-island network in French Polynesia, with three more ATR 72-500s still to come. Also in French Polynesia is an ATR 42-500 operated for the local government requirements, with the unique capability to convert it into a VIP configuration for specific executive flights.

Air Vanuatu, by contrast, currently operates one ATR 42-300 on its principal domestic routes, connecting the national capital, Port Vila, to the islands of Santo and Tanna, as well as to neighbouring Noumea, New Caledonia.
The acquisition By Air Vanuatu of its first ATR 72-500 will enable the carrier to develop international services to neighbouring Fiji and Solomon Islands, as well as adding much needed capacity to the local islands of Santo and Tanna.

In Fiji, Pacific Sun - the regional airline of national carrier, Air Pacific - introduced two ATR 42-500s last year for services on high density, short-haul routes including Nadi-Suva, Nadi-Labasa and Suva-Labasa, as well as offering great potential for efficient and economical services to neighbouring international destinations such as Vanuatu and Tonga.

In addition to adding capacity on these key routes, the two ATRs - the biggest aircraft in the Pacific Sun fleet - have released the carrier’s smaller aircraft to operate new or more frequent service in other markets within Fiji
In the nearby French territory of New Caledonia, Air Caledonie operates two ATR 72-500 and one ATR42-500 on a network linking the capital, Noumea, with seven mainland and island destinations. Tourism is vital to New Caledonia, and the ATR fleet enables Air Caledonie to deliver economical and reliable service in this spread-out market. In this regard, Air Caledonie benefits fully from the unmatched commonality existing between the two models - seating 50 and 70 passengers respectively - while operating them as a single type.

The current largest operator of ATR aircraft in the Pacific region is Air New Zealand, with a fleet of 11 ATR 72-500 aircraft operating on key domestic routes, in which many ports either cannot handle jet aircraft, cannot justify the expense or simply need high frequency feeder services.

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