Positive Outlook for ATR despite Softening Market Trends

On Monday, the first day of the Farnborough Airshow, Stéphane Mayer, ATR CEO, provided an update on 2008 activities and outlined the goals of the turboprop manufacturer for the remainder of the year. Despite the softening market trends affecting the commercial aviation in the first half of the year, ATR expects to reach the 1,000th sold aircraft, a turnover of more than US $ 1.3 billion and over 60 aircraft deliveries at the end of the year.

Stéphane Mayer said, “While the first semester has been characterized by a slowing economy, high pressure on airlines’ costs and rocketing fuel prices, there is strong growth potential in the regional market. There is an expected demand for 2,900 turboprops in the next 20 years, and an estimated annual passenger traffic growth around 8%. We strongly believe that the fundamental reasons of ATR’s success are long-term characteristics, and that our capacity to provide aircraft that feature the most updated technology, the lowest operating costs and the highest environmental-friendliness of the regional aviation will sustain our success”.

“In the last three years we have tripled our backlog and achieved a five-fold increase in aircraft production. We are currently achieving a dramatic growth, in coordination with our suppliers, in order to respond to the market needs, consolidate our market position and maintain our market share between 50% and 60% in the next 10 years,” Mr Mayer added. 

In the first semester of 2008 ATR received 8 firm orders:

  ATR is also currently developing a new aircraft, the ATR –600 series. Mr Mayer said, “The development of this very last member of our aircraft family is going as scheduled, and we do confirm 2010 as the year of the entrance into service of the first –600.”

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