ATR has again sidestepped the question of whether it plans to develop a 90-seat turboprop, with chief executive Patrick de Castelbajac acknowledging that disagreement between the two shareholders has created an impasse.
"We have two shareholders. One is very willing to go down that route. One is not very willing to go down that route," he said at the presentation of the manufacturer's results in Paris today.
Italian co-owner Finmeccanica subsidiary Alenia Aermacchi is keen to develop a larger aircraft than the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127-powered ATR 72, which would require an all-new airframe and a different engine. Airbus Group is sceptical, content to reap the benefits of a 280-strong backlog without investing in a clean-sheet programme.
ATR last year introduced a higher-thrust PW127 variant, the PW127N, to give the ATR 72 more capability at hot-and-high airports. It also plans to add capacity by developing a 78-seat interior this year. "It is feasible, and we are working with the authorities to get there," says de Castelbajac.
He hints at further improvements to the product range. "We have many ideas about ways to improve the aircraft, and in the coming months we will be agreeing on what to do," he says.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
