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ATR and Embraer are bullish on market prospects for their regional transport aircraft A Special report

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Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer and European heavyweight ATR occupy a unique niche in the world of commercial aviation as they target the highly competitive market for Regional Transport Aircraft (RTA). While Embraer is now targeting the larger end of the RTA segment with bigger turbofan-powered aircraft, ATR has remained rooted in its highly successful turboprop-powered offerings. ATR's product portfolio comprises the ATR 42-600, new ATR 42-600S, ATR 72600, and new ATR 72-600F cargo variant, while Embraer offers the ERJ, E-Jets, E-Jets Freighter and new E-Jets E2. Both companies have survived the COVID-19 pandemic and are successfully navigating today's complex economic and geopolitical environments. These two companies are also eyeing India's market for regional transport, which is expected to grow substantially by the end of the decade.

ATR Eyes Growth

ATR is particularly bullish on its growth prospects for 2023 and the future, now that travel restrictions have been lifted all over the world. The ATR 42/72s are market leaders in the less than 90-seat market segment. The European company is eyeing the high replacement demand, which is slated at 1,500 turboprops over the next 20 years. It is also looking to crack open the U.S. market, increase its footprint on the freighter market, and has plans to explore new opportunities for ATR aircraft in the corporate, governmental and humanitarian operations sectors. Despite industry-wide supply chain issues, ATR delivered 25 new and 11 pre-owned aircraft in 2022. Its healthy order backlog of approximately 160 aircraft will also aid the company's endeavours in 2023. The global ATR in-service fleet is now close to pre-Covid numbers with 1,200 aircraft flying.