Spanish carrier Air Nostrum places order for 10 ATR 72-600s plus options for 10 additional aircraft

ATR and the Spanish carrier Air Nostrum today inked a contract for the purchase of 10 ATR 72-600s, plus options for 10 additional aircraft. The deal, announced on the occasion of the Paris Air Show, is worth some US $ 425 million, including options.

The new ATR 72-600 fleet will allow Air Nostrum to improve its efficiency with larger capacity aircraft featuring the latest technological enhancements and the lowest seat-mile costs in regional aviation. The aircraft will also have the new cabin interior features of the ATR 600s, with improved lightweight, enhanced comfort seats and enlarged overhead bins. The delivery of these 70-seat configured aircraft will start in 2011.

Carlos Bertomeu, Chief Executive Officer of Air Nostrum, stated: “Thanks to the clear advantages of the ATR 72-600 aircraft, mainly in terms of low operating costs, we will be able to maintain our leading position in the Spanish regional market. Our new fleet of ATRs, which is well adapted for our new competitive environment, will also allow us to further improve our cost structure and strengthen our business case while offering the best value to our customers.”

Stéphane Mayer, ATR Chief Executive Officer, declared: “We are really delighted to receive this vote of confidence from a very important customer in Europe. Air Nostrum has operated 5 ATR 72-500s for nearly ten years and this order represents a strong validation of our success together. The ATR aircraft are perfectly adapted to respond the regional transportation needs, as further proven by our continually growing list of 140 operators worldwide.” He concluded: “It is an honor to further develop our partnership with one of the most well-reputed and respected European carriers, many times awarded by the European Regional Association.”

Since the beginning of the programme, ATR has sold 998 aircraft (424 ATR 42s and 574 ATR 72s).

The new ATR 42-600 and ATR 72-600 aircraft will feature the very latest technological enhancements, while building upon the well-known advantages of the current “-500 series” aircraft. These enhancements include a totally new avionics suite, new cabin interiors, new PW 127M engines, and up to additional 500 Kg on MTOW (Maximum Take-off weight° and MZFW (Maximum Zero Fuel Weight). These newest members of the ATR family of aircraft will feature the lowest fuel consumption per passenger and CO2 emissions, thus consolidating ATR as the “Green Player” of the regional aviation.

Air Nostrum leads the regional aviation in Spain and is one of the bigger regional airlines in Europe. With 100% private capital, Air Nostrum is an exclusive franchise of Iberia’s group and belongs to the Oneworld Alliance. The airline counts over 2.000 employees, operates more than 153.000 annual flights to 67 destinations, and has more than 120 different routes. Air Nostrum carries 5,2 million passengers per year, and reaches an annual turnover of more than € 630 million. Air Nostrum is the only regional European airline awarded four times with the "Airlines of the Year" award (Golden Category), granted by ERA (European Regions Airline Association).

Toulouse, Southern France-based regional aircraft manufacturer ATR is the world leader in the 50 to 74-seat turboprop market. ATR is an equal partnership between Alenia Aeronautica (a Finmeccanica company) and EADS. In 2008, ATR posted an annual turnover record, with US $ 1.3 billion. ATR is certified ISO 14001, the worldwide standard in the field of environmental respect.

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