ATR plans to set up an asset management business as part of a restructuring plan that will see the Franco-Italian turboprop consortium become a single corporate entity early next year.
The move comes as ATR and British Aerospace go their separate ways following the formal dissolution of the Aero International (Regional) partnership on 1 July.
According to new chief executive Antoine Bouvier, the unit will manage a fleet of about 200 ATR 42s and 72s to which the manufacturer has financial recourse.
The aim is to place used aircraft in markets such as Latin America and the former Eastern Bloc in the hope of securing new sales later.
Bouvier says that the company, owned by Aerospatiale and Alenia, is also under pressure to go ahead with a newly revised Airjet regional jet project by the end of this year and is seeking new partners. CASA is among companies in talks.
Source: Flight International