ATR is at Farnborough in buoyant mood with a string of new orders secured during the show – seven yesterday – and a firm belief that it is well positioned to weather the post-11 September industry downturn.
The Franco-Italian manufacturer yesterday confirmed a four-aircraft order from Alaska-based Northern Air Cargo for the large cargo door freighter version of the ATR 72, and predicted a market for about 100 ATR 42/72 freighters over the next 10 years.
Yesterday also saw three new orders from Bangkok Airways, for ATR 72-500 aircraft.
Earlier in the show, ATR announced several orders: three ATR 72-500s for Alitalia, five ATR 42-500s (one new and four second-hand aircraft) for LOT Polish Airlines and one ATR 72-500 for Air New Zealand.
"This year is particularly marked by the aftermath of 11 September," said Jean-Michel Leonard, ATR chief executive. "This tragic event led to strong consequences for the commercial aviation business and accelerated the disappearance of some airlines and difficulties for others. It also led to the demise of another commercial aircraft manufacturer."
He added: "In this difficult environment, I think ATR is in a relatively good position."
With a total of 13 aircraft sold, ATR is more than half way towards its sales target for the year, said Leonard. Hitting the target of 20-25 sales this year will mean the firm maintains its backlog of 18 months' production.
Other factors that support Leonard's confident view of ATR include the fact that the asset management side of the business has performed well this year and that the restructuring of the company has delivered the expected savings.
Leonard said that ATR's exposure in the badly-hit American market was not great and that an emerging factor in choice of aircraft centred on the product's environmental credentials. "This may become even more important in future as environmental features are becoming more of an issue."
Source: Flight Daily News
