Air Tahiti has ordered
two ATR 42-600S, the new version of the ATR 42 offering enhanced
take-off and landing capabilities on short runways.
ATR has already started taking
orders for the new aircraft despite not having been
approved by the company’s Board of Directors, something which is expected
to happen before the end of the year.
The ATR
42-600S is a STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) version of the ATR
42-600 which has been enhanced to reduce the required take-off and
landing distances, down from 1,050 metres at present to just 800
metres.
Manate Vivish, General Manager of Air Tahiti, said, “I
am so happy to be part of the launch of this new version of the
ATR. This turboprop has already earned worldwide recognition for
its high-quality performance, especially for island networks. The
ATR 42-600S will enable us to use higher-capacity aircraft for
destinations which until now had only been accessible with much
smaller aircraft. This is excellent news, both for the inhabitants
of the archipelago and for the tourists who visit us.”
The new aircraft will be operated by the Polynesian airline on
routes interconnecting the Marquesas Islands. They will allow an
increase in the number of passengers carried to certain
destinations in the archipelago, such as Ua Pou or Ua Huka,
currently served only by smaller aircraft. The introduction of
these new aircraft is also a response to the airline’s desire to
continue to harmonise its regional fleet around ATRs, which Air
Tahiti has been operating for over 30 years already.
Stefano Bortoli, ATR’s Chief Executive Officer,
said, “Air
Tahiti has been one of our best ambassadors for over 30 years. Day
after day, the airline demonstrates our aircraft’s ability to
serve island communities in a sustainable, responsible way. We are
proud to announce that Air Tahiti is the launch customer for our
ATR 42-600S, and we are convinced that this enhanced version will
help the airline boost connectivity between communities even
further, and support local development even more effectively.”
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