Regional turboprop manufacturer ATR handed over its 1000th aircraft - an ATR 72-600 - to Spanish airline Air Nostrum in a ceremony in Toulouse on 3 May 2012.

The Franco-Italian manufacturer celebrated the event in front of 1,000 employees, partners and members of the media.

From handover of the first ATR 42 to Air Littoral in December 1985, it took ATR about 15 years to achieve its 600th delivery, to Air Dolomiti, in April 2000. Six more years elapsed before the 700th shipment, to Air Deccan in September 2006.

ATR 560 1 

 Credit: ATR

But since then the EADS subsidiary has delivered 100 aircraft every two years. It reached the 800th delivery in November 2008 with the handover of one ATR 72-500 to TAT Group, which placed the aircraft on lease to Bangkok Airways.

The 900th delivery, in September 2010, was another ATR 72-500, for TRIP Linhas Aereas.

 ATR 560 2

 Credit: ATR

Air Nostrum placed a firm order for 10 ATR 72-600s in 2009 along with 10 options for the type.

Source: FlightGlobal.com