A big order landed in the book of ATR, with an order for 50 ATR72-600 aircraft by Indigo of India.
ATR 72-600 pre-series in New Corporate livery taking off from Francazal airport- Image, ATR.
The order by IndiGo is for an order of 50 ATR 72-600 aircraft, with flexibility to reduce the order subject to certain conditions.
IndiGo is planning a development of its regional market as part of the Indian Government’s Regional Connectivity Scheme called UDAN, aiming to boost economic development, employment and tourism by connecting small and remote cities.
The press statement makes interesting reading, with IndiGo wanting to be at the head of the UDAN market, with Aditya Ghosh, President of IndiGo stating:
“In support of our Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s UDAN vision, we are embarking on a journey to build a nation-wide regional network and connect cities that have not benefitted from the growth in Indian aviation. The ATRs low operating costs will help us build a large regional air travel network with reasonable fares. These aircraft will feature modern cabin interiors, thus making the flight a comfortable experience for our passengers. The ATR’s outstanding operational versatility, along with their capabilities to land in remote airports with limited infrastructure will help us manage our operations efficiently.”
The order itself is worth US$1.3 billion at list prices.
No configuration has been announced yet for the IndiGo ATR72-600s, which can hold between 68 to 78 seats. Fully loaded, the turboprop plane can fly 900 nautical miles or 1,665 Km
ATR aircraft can be great aircraft for regional operators connecting short distances. I’ve flown on an ATR72-500 for some short hops.
With the new seat by Geven, the ATR looks to be a more comfortable option, as well as an effective option for an airline that wants to open up a regional network.
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