ATR is the world’s leading manufacturer in regional aviation, with aircraft operating across more
than 100 countries since its founding in 1981. Over more than four decades, the company has built
its position by focusing on the routes and markets that conventional jet aircraft are not designed to
serve efficiently: shorter distances, thinner passenger demand, airports with limited infrastructure.
Turboprop propulsion: how it works and why it suits regional aviation
Jet aircraft are optimized for high-altitude, long-haul operations. When deployed on short regional
sectors below 25,000 feet, their fuel efficiency declines significantly, as the aircraft operates
outside the performance envelope for which it was designed.
Turboprop engines, by contrast, use a gas turbine to drive a propeller, which delivers superior
propulsive efficiency at the speeds and altitudes typical of regional flying — generally between 250
and 400 knots. ATR‘s aircraft consume 45% less fuel than comparable regional jets, a structural
advantage that underpins the economic viability of thin routes and secondary airport operations.
This efficiency also amplifies the impact of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF): the lower the baseline
fuel consumption, the greater the emissions benefit per litre of SAF used.
ATR’s current aircraft family
ATR’s aircraft family comprises three variants: the ATR 42-600, the ATR 72-600, and the ATR 72-
600F freighter, with seating capacity of up to 78 passengers. Cabin configurations range from high-
density layouts suited to high-frequency regional operations to the Highline range, which offers
premium materials, refined lighting, and interiors designed for a more elevated passenger
experience.
The PW127XT engine, developed with Pratt & Whitney Canada, adds another 3% fuel efficiency
over the previous model. Small number, large effect when you multiply it across a global fleet.
Since August 2023, ATR’s production test flights have used a 30% SAF blend – nearly four tonnes of CO₂ saved per flight.
Innovation roadmap: EVO concept and SAF integration
The ATR EVO concept represents the company’s next generation development programme,
incorporating hybrid-ready propulsion, enhanced aerodynamics, and full SAF compatibility, with the
aim of achieving double-digit reductions in both fuel burn and maintenance costs.
The SAF milestone worth noting came in June 2022. An ATR 72-600, both engines running on
100% SAF, took off from Malmö Airport in partnership with Braathens Regional Airlines and Neste.
It was the first time it had been done on a commercial regional aircraft. What ATR has been
building ever since points in the same direction: don’t wait for perfect conditions, use what exists, improve it continuously.
Regional routes serve communities whose connectivity depends on the viability of short-haul
aviation: access to healthcare, economic integration, and essential supply chains all rely on
consistent regional service. ATR’s focus over more than four decades has been to make these
routes operationally and economically sustainable, through aircraft engineered specifically for the
conditions in which regional aviation operates.
