Post by corsair67 on Nov 10, 2006 10:08:30 GMT 12
From today's The Australian.
Maybe if the ATRs weren't so ugly, then more airlines would buy them? ;D
Actually, I am surprised that they haven't been popular here, although QANTAS has always been very happy with the DASH-8 series, and REX is building towards a fleet of forty SAAB 340s. The ATR series of aircraft are probably too big for most operators in regional areas.
Euro maker sets up shop to sell turboprops to regionals
Steve Creedy, Aviation writer
November 10, 2006.
EUROPEAN aircraft manufacturer ATR is setting up a Sydney office in an attempt to break into the Australian turboprop market.
The Toulouse-based company is targeting the operators of about 100 regional turboprops in the 30-50 seat category.
It says the average age of those aircraft of about 16 years provides a good potential for them to be replaced or upgraded.
"We've got a fairly good presence in the region in terms of operators and aircraft but we've really been unable to establish a presence in Australia," said ATR senior vice-president commercial John Moore during a recent visit to Sydney.
"And we see, certainly, good potential in this market. Our aircraft is a good fit for regional airlines here.
"So we figured the only way to do it properly was to have a permanent presence here."
Mr Moore said ATR had about 55 per cent of the new turboprop market worldwide and hoped to boost its presence to similar levels in Australia.
It saw markets for both its 46-50 seat ATR 42 and its 64-74 seat ATR 72. "I think Qantas is going to be difficult to break into but the others we'll certainly target," he said.
"The other areas of interest are the mining and natural resource types of flying - and our aircraft have good performance on unpaved runways and short fields, so it's well suited for that.
"And the other area we've targeted is the cargo market, because we've got quite a good cargo configuration on the ATR which has been quite successful."
Mr Moore said ATR, a joint venture between Airbus parent EADS and Alenia Aeronautica, had noticed a move back to turboprops after a swing in the 1990s towards regional jets.
He said the new turboprop designs were quieter and offered the same passenger comfort as jets, and had about half the fuel burn.
"On short routes up to about 800km, turboprop is just a much more effective economic tool," Mr Moore said.
"Last year we sold 90 aircraft, which is the most we've ever sold in one year over 10 years, and this year we've already sold nearly 60 aircraft.
"And that was coming from a couple of years ago where we were selling 10 to 15 aircraft a year, so we've really seen a dramatic turnaround."
Maybe if the ATRs weren't so ugly, then more airlines would buy them? ;D
Actually, I am surprised that they haven't been popular here, although QANTAS has always been very happy with the DASH-8 series, and REX is building towards a fleet of forty SAAB 340s. The ATR series of aircraft are probably too big for most operators in regional areas.
Euro maker sets up shop to sell turboprops to regionals
Steve Creedy, Aviation writer
November 10, 2006.
EUROPEAN aircraft manufacturer ATR is setting up a Sydney office in an attempt to break into the Australian turboprop market.
The Toulouse-based company is targeting the operators of about 100 regional turboprops in the 30-50 seat category.
It says the average age of those aircraft of about 16 years provides a good potential for them to be replaced or upgraded.
"We've got a fairly good presence in the region in terms of operators and aircraft but we've really been unable to establish a presence in Australia," said ATR senior vice-president commercial John Moore during a recent visit to Sydney.
"And we see, certainly, good potential in this market. Our aircraft is a good fit for regional airlines here.
"So we figured the only way to do it properly was to have a permanent presence here."
Mr Moore said ATR had about 55 per cent of the new turboprop market worldwide and hoped to boost its presence to similar levels in Australia.
It saw markets for both its 46-50 seat ATR 42 and its 64-74 seat ATR 72. "I think Qantas is going to be difficult to break into but the others we'll certainly target," he said.
"The other areas of interest are the mining and natural resource types of flying - and our aircraft have good performance on unpaved runways and short fields, so it's well suited for that.
"And the other area we've targeted is the cargo market, because we've got quite a good cargo configuration on the ATR which has been quite successful."
Mr Moore said ATR, a joint venture between Airbus parent EADS and Alenia Aeronautica, had noticed a move back to turboprops after a swing in the 1990s towards regional jets.
He said the new turboprop designs were quieter and offered the same passenger comfort as jets, and had about half the fuel burn.
"On short routes up to about 800km, turboprop is just a much more effective economic tool," Mr Moore said.
"Last year we sold 90 aircraft, which is the most we've ever sold in one year over 10 years, and this year we've already sold nearly 60 aircraft.
"And that was coming from a couple of years ago where we were selling 10 to 15 aircraft a year, so we've really seen a dramatic turnaround."
