Q&A: "There is a large ATR ecosystem"

ATR aircraft have been playing, and will continue to play, an essential role to make air transport more accessible and inclusive in India, because they offer a unique combination of unparalleled economics, comfort, reliability, airport accessibility and sustainability, says JEAN-PIERRE CLERCIN, Head of Sales Asia Pacific, ATR, in this interview with CRUISING HEIGHTS

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How many ATR aircraft are operational across different Indian carriers today?

Our presence in India dates back to 1999. That's when the first ATR aircraft flew in the country, and ever since we have been contributing to offer quick, reliable and affordable connectivity to Indian communities. Today, there are around 60 ATR aircraft flying across the country, operated by four airlines. While our analysis of route creation in 2022 is not finished yet, I can tell you that they performed 115,000 flights in 2021, served 90 destinations and opened 39 new routes. The figures speak for themselves: in a low-fare environment such as India, with a strong need to link secondary cities between themselves, ATRS make perfect business sense. With a 25 percent break-even load factor, they are the ideal aircraft to stimulate demand and consolidate existing market with minimal risk. They are also the most efficient regional aircraft on the market, burning 45 percent less fuel and emitting 45 percent less CO2 than similar-size regional jets. ATR aircraft have been playing, and will continue to play, an essential role to make air transport more accessible and inclusive in India, because they offer a unique combination of unparalleled economics, comfort, reliability, airport accessibility and sustainability. ATR is the only manufacturer today who can offer this kind of versatility to regional airlines. It is ideally placed to support the ambition that is behind the Indian government's UDAN scheme: making air travel affordable and widespread, to boost the national economy. This is why we foresee a need for 300 new passenger turboprops in India over the next 20 years.

What is the latest variant of the ATR-72 available to customers today?