ATR delivered the first ATR 72-600 with the brand new PW127XT engine to launch customer Air Corsica. Following a firm order for five new ATR 72-600, announced a year ago at the Dubai Airshow, this delivery marks an important step in Air Corsica’s fleet upgrade and sustainable development, ensuring the airline will continue to fulfill its public service mission with the most economical, reliable and responsible aircraft on the market.
A clear testament of ATR’s commitment to investing in technology that brings affordable and sustainable regional mobility, the new PW127XT engine offers a 20% reduction in maintenance costs and a 3% improvement in fuel consumption compared to the PW127M – which means -45% fuel burn and CO2 emissions compared to similar-size regional jets. Air Corsica’s passengers will benefit from high cabin comfort and further innovation as the aircraft will be equipped with USB ports for charging electronic devices during the flight – a first in ATR cabins.
The airline will also be optimising the maintenance of its entire ATR fleet through a 12-year Global Maintenance Agreement. This pay-by-the-hour contract covers the repair, overhaul and pooling services of Line Replaceable Units, and includes the propellers, landing gears and leading edges availability and maintenance, plus a long-term price agreement for the provision of over 2,000 spare parts.
Marie-Hélène Casanova-Servas, President of Air Corsica’s Supervisory Board, commented: “ATRs are central to our model of air travel in Corsica. They have proven to be the right product for our short-haul operations, enabling us to limit our impact on the island’s pristine environment and to meet our passengers’ demand for quick, frequent, reliable, and yet lower emission, air travel. Selecting both the latest generation turboprop, the newest engine on the market to equip it, and the best maintenance programme to optimise its reliability, makes perfect business sense, and moreover, is the most responsible choice.”
ATR Chief Executive Officer Nathalie Tarnaud Laude said: “Air Corsica and ATR have grown together ever since their first ATR flight in 1990. Over decades they have shown commitment to flying the latest technology and most responsible aircraft available. As our product evolves to meet new market needs and incorporates further innovations, it remains the most reliable, efficient, cost-effective aircraft on the market, as well as the most sustainable platform to operate regional routes. This makes ATR and Air Corsica a perfect match.”
Increasing fuel prices, growing carbon taxation, as well as greater passenger demand for lower emission travel all mean that the aviation industry is naturally favouring low-carbon emitting aircraft such as ATR turboprops. Studies show that, even today, if all regional jets in Europe were replaced by turboprops, the reduction of CO2 emissions would be equivalent to the amount of CO2 removed by a forest of around 5000 km2 – approximately the surface covered by forests in Corsica.
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