Turboprop orders soar over regional jets during first half

Demand increases for propeller-driven airliners but production rates still remain low

Recent signs that the turboprop market is on the rebound have been confirmed by the half-year sales figures, which show that orders have outstripped those for regional jets (net of cancellations) for the first time in almost a decade. But while the turboprop backlog is at the highest level since the 1990s, output remains at a relative trickle.

ATR and Bombardier took firm orders for 93 turboprops between them, compared with 21 in the same period last year and 47 for all of 2004. First-half net sales of Bombardier and Embraer regional jets stand at 74, against 130 in the same period of 2004. The 2005 jet total includes a number of cancellations, the most significant of which being the elimination of the 34 CRJ200s that remained on order for US airline Independence Air.

Overall, regional net orders are up 10% on the first half of last year, from 151 to 167. But output has declined by 15% to 148 units as jet deliveries fell by a fifth to 129 and turboprop shipments were almost flat at 19 units.

ATR is matching Bombardier in net sales, with each accumulating around 50 orders (including jets). The Canadian manufacturer is the sector’s most prolific producer, with 90 deliveries, but Embraer is in the driving seat with the largest backlog: its 409 orders represent an almost 60% market share. The overall backlog for regional aircraft has declined slightly since the end of last year to just over 700 aircraft: the turboprop share has increased by 10 percentage points to 19%.

Source: Flight International/manufacturers. *AT 30/6/05

Data excludes orders for Bombardier Challenger 800 and

Embraer Legacy business jets variants, and military/air-ambulance

Versions.

Source: Flight International/manufacturers. *At 30/6/05

MAX KINGSLEY-JONES/LONDON

Source: Flight International