An ATR 72-600 prototype.
Turboprop manufacturer ATR, which announced its largest aircraft order since 2017 in the lead up to the Paris Air Show, believes the market is “clearly picking up.”
On June 10, ATR announced an order from Taiwanese airline UNI Air for 19 ATR 72-600s, plus three purchase rights. “This marks the largest ATR order since 2017,” ATR said.
The aircraft will replace and grow UNI Air’s fleet of 14 ATR 72-600s, with deliveries anticipated between 2027 and 2032. ATR said Asia-Pacific remains its “most dynamic market.”
Ahead of the show, ATW On Location asked ATR how the year was shaping up.
“2025 is in line with our expectations, with strong commercial momentum. The market is clearly picking up,” an ATR spokesperson said. “We’re seeing clear positive signals from the market. We’ll also be unveiling our new global turboprop market forecast.”
Beyond this, ATR is planning a Paris media briefing about product and technology improvements, together with engine manufacturer Pratt and Whitney. ATR has already announced a postponement of its EVO hybrid-electric program, which was slated to enter service in 2032, because of battery performance issues.
In terms of commercial performance, ATR secured orders for 56 aircraft in 2024—up 40% on 2023—and year-on-year deliveries remained stable at 35 aircraft, creating a 150-aircraft backlog. The airframer also booked almost 100 used aircraft transactions.
“Deliveries should be approximately at the same level of 2024,” the spokesperson said. While this hints at production of around 35 aircraft, ATR used to produce 80 aircraft per year. However, safety regulations mean ATR’s maximum production capacity on its existing production line is now capped at around 60 aircraft per year.
ATR’s book-to-build ratio is also expected to remain above one. The spokesperson added that the first phase of -600 series renewals has begun, where customers operating the newer -600 variant are now looking to replace their aircraft.
Meanwhile, supply chain tensions are ongoing, meaning one of ATR’s core 2025 objectives is to stabilize production. Earlier in the year, deliveries were running late by a few months, with landing gears being one of the worst-affected components.
“We know already that we will have to wait for the second half of the year to start seeing improvements to the supply chain tensions, which remain very strong today,” the spokesperson said.
An ATR 72-600 in the livery of Brazilian carrier Azul will be on static display at the show, and a -600 will participate in the daily flying display. There will also be an ATR Highline premium cabin concept cabin mock-up at the show, along with virtual reality tours.
Finally, Paris delegates will also be able to play with ATR’s Mobility Monitor market analysis software, which identifies untapped regional routes. ATR specifically mentioned route potential in the US and India, which could hint at target markets.
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