ATR Halts Development of ATR42-600S STOL Variant
Regional aircraft manufacturer ATR (Avions de Transport Régional) has announced it will cease the development of its ATR42-600S short take-off and landing (STOL) variant. The decision comes after an extensive market review and ongoing supply chain challenges. ATR’s CEO, Nathalie Tarnaud Laude, emphasized that the company must continually assess its product portfolio to meet market demand, ensuring operational efficiency and long-term sustainability, reported ch-aviation.com.
The ATR42-600S had garnered interest, with 20 orders placed for the aircraft, including commitments from Dublin International-based lessor Abelo Capital Aviation (ten orders), PNG Air (three orders), Air Tahiti (two orders), and five undisclosed customers. However, recent developments, particularly airport infrastructure upgrades in Papua New Guinea, have reduced the need for the STOL variant. PNG Air CEO Brian Fraser explained that these upgrades have made the aircraft “superfluous” for their operations, but expressed satisfaction with their existing ATR fleet, which remains well-suited to their operating environment.
ATR’s market review revealed a smaller-than-expected addressable market for the ATR42-600S. In Southeast Asia, for example, the number of airports requiring STOL-capable aircraft has decreased due to runway extensions or the construction of nearby alternative airports. This trend has been observed in other key target markets as well, leading ATR to focus on its current product line, which can operate at full capacity.
While halting the STOL project, ATR plans to shift its resources toward enhancing its existing product lines, particularly the ATR42-600 and ATR72-600. The company will also focus on technological innovation and emerging markets, such as North America, where there is increasing demand to replace aging regional jet fleets and enhance point-to-point regional connectivity. ATR’s strategic focus will now center on reducing operational costs and improving aircraft availability, ensuring the competitiveness of its market-leading products.
Tarnaud Laude stated, “We are now entering the next phase of growth and improvement, where we will focus on further investing in the competitiveness of our market-leading products, the ATR42-600 and ATR72-600.” With these shifts, ATR aims to strengthen its position in the regional aviation market while responding to changing market dynamics and customer needs.
Related News : https://airguide.info/?s=ATR
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com