• ATR is benefiting from strong turboprop demand, with annual sales exceeding production levels and a growing backlog. The manufacturer forecasts demand for around 2,100 turboprop aircraft over the next 20 years, driven mainly by fleet replacements and expansion of regional networks.
• Emerging markets represent a major growth opportunity, with ATR using its Mobility Monitor data platform to identify underserved routes. The company highlights significant potential in regions such as India and Asia, where limited air connectivity leaves room for new regional links.
• ATR is expanding beyond its core aircraft offering, investing in hybrid-electric propulsion targeted for a 2029 flight test while introducing new cabin concepts such as premium HighLine layouts and corporate shuttle configurations to broaden market applications.

ATR may not have announced new orders at this year’s Farnborough International Airshow, but the regional aircraft manufacturer says market momentum for its turboprop family remains strong, with demand continuing to exceed production capacity.

ATR Chief Commercial Officer Alexis Vidal said the company has delivered strong commercial performance over the past two years, selling more than 50 aircraft annually while producing around 35 aircraft per year. “Our book-to-bill ratio is above one, and we have a growing order backlog,” Vidal said.

Looking ahead, ATR expects the global market to require approximately 2,100 turboprop aircraft over the next 20 years, with the company aiming to play a leading role in meeting that demand.

Using data to uncover regional connectivity gaps

ATR is increasingly positioning itself not only as an aircraft manufacturer, but as a company focused on expanding regional connectivity. A key element of this strategy is its Mobility Monitor platform, which analyses millions of GPS-based data points from smartphones and other devices to understand how people travel between cities and identify underserved transport links.

The tool examines whether journeys are made by road, rail, air or sea, helping highlight markets where aviation could provide a more efficient alternative.

India is one example where ATR sees significant potential. The company estimates the country generates around 4.6 billion intercity journeys each year, but only approximately 3% are completed by air. The remaining 97% are made using surface transport, indicating substantial room for regional aviation growth.

“Asia remains the fastest-growing aviation region,” Vidal said, adding that ATR aircraft are often the first aircraft many families and children experience in developing economies.

The manufacturer argues that regional aircraft can transform accessibility by reducing lengthy surface journeys. Routes that can take eight to 18 hours by road, ATR said, may be completed in around 1.5 hours by air.

Fleet replacement drives long-term demand

While ATR expects new route development to contribute to future growth, much of the projected market demand is expected to come from existing operators replacing ageing fleets.

Of the 2,100 aircraft forecast to be required over the next two decades, Vidal said around two-thirds will be replacement demand, with the remaining third linked to new routes and network expansion.

“We are not basing our projections on fantasy; we know the majority of our market is based on routes already operating today,” Vidal said.

Existing ATR operators are already upgrading to newer ATR 600-series aircraft equipped with Pratt & Whitney Canada’s PW127XT engine. ATR said the engine delivers fuel savings of up to 5% compared with the previous generation, supporting lower operating costs and improved efficiency.

Hybrid propulsion and new cabins broaden ATR’s offering

ATR is also investing in future propulsion technologies, with plans to flight-test a hybrid-electric version of the ATR 72-600 by 2029 through support from the European Union’s Clean Aviation research programme.

Vidal said ATR’s approach is centred on developing practical solutions by building on an aircraft platform that is already certified and operating globally. “We are prioritising a credible development roadmap by integrating hybrid propulsion into an aircraft platform that is already certified and in production, rather than pursuing unproven technology,” he said.

In parallel, ATR is expanding the range of missions its aircraft can support through new cabin concepts.

The HighLine configuration introduces an all-business-class ATR 72-600 cabin, replacing the standard two-by-two seating arrangement with individual seats. The first aircraft has been delivered to Malaysia’s Berjaya Air, with Air Tahiti deliveries scheduled for 2027 and 2028.

ATR is also developing a corporate shuttle configuration for the ATR 42-600, allowing operators to quickly convert the cabin for business transport. The flexible layout can accommodate worktables and alternative seating arrangements for companies moving groups of employees.

Expanding the role of regional aviation

ATR’s wider strategy is focused on using regional aircraft to improve connectivity and open access to air travel in markets where aviation remains limited.

“We want to create possibilities,” Vidal said. “We want to create new routes and enable those first flights for children and families in developing regions so they can realise the benefits of aviation.”

With around 200 operators across 100 countries, ATR believes its combination of fleet replacement demand, emerging-market growth, new aircraft applications and future propulsion technology will support its continued role in the regional aviation sector.

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