Alitalia Orders 3 ATR 72-500
Farnborough, 23 July 2002
The Italian carrier and ATR have today signed a contract covering the purchase of 3 ATR 72-500. These aircraft will be operated by the 100% subsidary of Alitalia, Alitalia Express.
« First of all, this order is the result of the excellent and long established relationship between ATR and the Italian flag carrier. Moreover, it confirms the ATR 72-500 as the reference aircraft for short haul routes, said Jean-Michel Léonard, ATR CEO. Alitalia is therefore developing its regional fleet with this confortable, reliable and economical aircraft, complementing it’s fleet of small jets. »
The 66 seats new generation ATR 72-500 will mainly feed the airports of Malpensa and Fiumicino and are scheduled to be delivered between the end of the year 2002 and Spring 2003.
This new order will bring the total number of ATR 72 in the fleet of Alitalia Express to ten aircraft.
Since the beginning of the programme, ATR has sold 665 ATR (369 ATR 42 and 296 ATR 72) and delivered 642 aircraft (366 ATR 42 and 276 ATR 72).
Toulouse, France-based ATR, N°1 in turboprops in the 40 to 70 seat market segment, is a European joint venture between Finmeccanica/Alenia Aeronautica and EADS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Compagny).
Press Contact ATR :
Phone : 33 5 62 21 63 22
Fax : 33 5 62 21 63 18
E-mail : frederic.lahache@atr.fr
