ATR is offering its Armonia cabin interior as a line-fit option for new customers of its -500 series turboprops - a cabin originally developed for the new -600 variant.

Developed by Italian design house Giugiaro Design, Armonia features cleanly-styled slim seats that have been ergonomically designed to ensure greater knee clearance, in addition to new side panels, overhead bins and LED lighting.

The airframer revealed that five ATR 72-500s "now going out from the factory" are being equipped with Armonia for Indonesian carrier Wings Air - a regional subsidiary of Lion Air.

ATR "Armonia" cabin concept

 © ATR

ATR Armonia cabin interior

"We still call this aircraft the -500," the company said. "The series 600 has everything, which of course includes the new [glass] cockpit [in addition to Armonia]."

The company added that a retrofit of Armonia can be accomplished, although it has not been done "yet".

To date, ATR has sold 220 series 600 aircraft. Royal Air Maroc and more recently Brazilian carrier Azul have begun taking delivery of ATR 72-600s.

Passengers are responding favourably to the Armonia cabin and to ATR's new generation turboprops overall, according to the airframer.

"We wanted to go in the direction of passengers' expectations [with Armonia]," said customisation director Pierre Tiefenbach. "But we also took into account the needs of the airlines around the world.

"For the USA, it was very important to have the possibility to provide the cabin in a dual-class configuration, which is why we [offer] a first class interior on the Armonia cabin."

Source: Flight International