ATR chief Stephane Mayer has briefly referred to the manufacturer’s new turboprop project as the -900 although he insists a name is yet to be fixed for the future aircraft family.
The turboprop manufacturer is investigating the potential for a new twin-turboprop family which will comprise at least two family members at each end of the 70- to 98-seat range. A 50-seater is also under evaluation.
Currently at the pre-study phase, the new family will act as a successor to the ATR 42-600 and 72-600 which are slated to enter service in 2011.
Speaking during a recent media briefing in Toulouse, Mayer said airlines would be able to upgrade to the -600 and then, with the growth of their fleet and traffic, “move to the -900” once it became available.
Despite the reference, Mayer stresses that no name has been chosen for the new aircraft family, which is slated for entry into service around eight to 10 years from now.
ATR is yet to reveal the launch customer for the -600, which is an upgraded version of the ATR 42-500 and 72-500. The -600 will be equipped with a new avionics and higher-thrust engines. It will also benefit from increased payload, lighter baseline weights and enhanced cabin comfort.
Mayer does not believe that the prospect of a new aircraft family will impact demand for the -600, as some airline cannot afford to hold off on their fleet renewal until the new product is available.
He says: “It depends from one customer to another. You have demand for -500 as soon as possible [as an urgent regional jet replacement]. You have demand for the -600 when it becomes available, because it better matches customer needs, and finally demand from people who are able to wait for longer term.
“We have some customers which already have a fleet of quite young -500s and those who will [soon] take their first -500. For those the question is whether to change to the -600 three years from now or whether to wait six or eight years, so this question is relevant.”
Source: flightglobal.com's sister premium news site Air Transport Intelligence news
Source: Flight International
