Reduced Emissions Cited as Major Motivation to Upgrading Aircraft Fleets

ATR's trusty commuter turboprop passed a minor milestone over the summer, with the delivery of the 1,700th aircraft to Air Corsica.

The delivery put a cap on the firm's order of 7 new ATR-72-600s from its fleet of legacy ATR-500s. The aircraft have been a mainstay of the Air Corsica fleet for years, providing them a solid mix of reliability, efficiency, and comfort. Their new ATR 72-600 models, equipped with the PW127XT engine, offer a "20% reduction in maintenance costs and at least a 3% reduction in fuel consumption" over the -500 model's PW127M. That change also reduces CO2 emissions by about 45%, compared to a comparable regional jet, at least. For smaller operators, that comes in pretty handy across the EU - emissions remain a major bugbear for regulators, and a highly visible airline makes for an easy target.

That emissions focus was a large part of the Air Corsica Supervisory Board's response to the delivery. The Board's President, Marie-Hélène Casanova-Servas, said that the changeover was a big milestone for the carrier.

“Completing our fleet renewal with the ATR 72-600 is a pivotal moment for Air Corsica, reflecting our commitment to providing the best possible service to our passengers and supporting the economic vitality of our island. This latest-generation aircraft enhances our operational efficiency and significantly reduces our environmental impact, aligning perfectly with our vision of a more sustainable future for air travel in Corsica. By investing in this modern fleet, we are ensuring that our island remains well-connected, fostering growth and opportunity for our communities.”

“Delivering our 1,700th aircraft to Air Corsica marks a major milestone in our partnership and highlights our joint commitment to setting the standard for regional connectivity," said ATR CEO Nathalie Tarnaud Laude. "This achievement also underscores ATR’s resilience, unmatched adequacy for the regional market, and capacity to provide highly-efficient, versatile aircraft that empower airlines to thrive in the dynamic regional aviation sector.”

FMI: www.atr-aircraft.com