ATR Tips India To Become Its Leading Turboprop Market | Aviation Week Network

Source: Aviation Week

SINGAPORE -- The huge potential of the aviation market in India means it could have the largest fleet of ATR turboprops of any country, an ATR senior executive says.

"India will become, I believe, our [top] market in coming years," Alexis Vidal, ATR senior vice president and chief commercial officer, tells Aviation Week at the Singapore Airshow.

India is already among the manufacturer's leading markets, with more than 60 aircraft in operation. This total puts India behind Indonesia, which has 80-100 ATR turboprops and is currently ATR's top market by country.

These two countries dominate the fleet of about 400 ATRs in the Asia-Pacific region, which is already the top region for ATR operating aircraft. According to ATR's 20-year market outlook, the Asia-Pacific will account for about 1,000 of the 2,450 total expected turboprop deliveries by all manufacturers.

Current ATR operators in India are IndiGo, with the highest number, and Alliance Air. A new ATR operator is regional startup carrier Fly91, which is expected to begin operations in the first half of 2024 with two leased ATR 72s.

The demand potential is partly based on the fact that the Indian population is already estimated to have overtaken China's as the world's largest. Another contributing factor is the Indian government's Udan program, which is aimed at developing and incentivizing regional aviation connectivity.

There are many other Asia-Pacific markets with strong growth potential including the Philippines, South Korea, and Pacific Islands nations, as well as others with large aircraft replacement needs, such as Japan and New Zealand.

Sustainability is one of the major aspects of ATR's aircraft development plans. ATR turboprops are already certified to operate with 50% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blends, and the manufacturer expects to gain certification for 100% SAF operations in 2025.

Further ahead, ATR is working on a hybrid-electric version of its turboprops, known as the EVO program. It is still in feasibility study stage, with program launch expected in 2025. Certification is tentatively targeted for around 2030.