Avions de Transport Régional (ATR) is sharing in the booming regional market and the upswing in orders for short-haul turboprop aircraft, with this year already proving fruitful after two record years.
Aer Arann
This year’s ERA Airline of the Year gold award went to two-time runner-up Eastern Airways. While noting the carrier’s “dynamic approach to industry lobbying,” judges lauded the UK regional’s ability to survive powerful competition through “courage, creativity and persistence,” as well as marketing and operational and technical commitment.
A complete change of approach to its business and, not least, punctual performance have helped Binter Canarias become the European Regions Airline Association airline of the year for the third time.
Ireland’s Aer Arann has agreed to take delivery of 10 new 72-seat ATR 72-500s from the Franco-Italian turboprop builder over the next three years. Announced last month in Dublin in the presence of Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, the $180 million deal represents the single largest aircraft investment by a private Irish passenger airline and ranks as the third largest in Ireland’s history.