Air Corsica upgrades its ATR 72 turboprop fleet
Launch customer of ATR’s new PW127XT engine, the airline will continue to fulfill its public service mission with the most economical and sustainable aircraft on the market
Dubai Airshow, 15 November 2021 — Air Corsica, Corsica’s leading airline, and ATR, the world’s leading regional aircraft manufacturer, announced a firm order for five new ATR 72-600 aircraft to be powered by the new Pratt & Whitney Canada engine, the PW127XT, also announced today. Deliveries will start by November 2022.
The order means a full upgrade of Air Corsica’s ATR 72 fleet. Thanks to its state-of-the-art turboprop engines, the Corsican airline will be able to optimise its operations, with increased capacity and reduced operating costs, and contribute to the development of a more responsible aviation. Air Corsica passengers will benefit from a more spacious cabin with larger overhead compartments, and the cutting-edge navigation technology available on board will further improve the regularity and reliability of the services they offer.
From the airline’s earliest days, more than thirty years ago, Air Corsica has always opted for ATR to operate flights from Corsica by delegation from the public administration.With low fuel consumption and reduced operating costs, ATR ensures fast, reliable, and sustainable air connectivity as a driver of economic and societal development.
Stefano Bortoli, ATR’s Chief Executive Officer, stated: “We at ATR are very proud to have an historic customer like Air Corsica, with ongoing confidence in our aircraft to support its growth and modernisation strategy. In choosing ATR, Air Corsica has made a strategic decision that is both economical and responsible: it is the most cost-effective solution for operating regional routes, with the most environmentally friendly technology available on the market.”
Marie-Hélène Casanova-Servas, President of Air Corsica’s Supervisory Board, commented: “When carrying out a public service mission, there’s a multitude of factors to consider: what is the most reliable, efficient, cost-effective and modern aircraft? And for a territory as preserved as Corsica, we also pay a specific attention to the environmental impact of our aircraft. This is why we have chosen the latest version of the ATR 72-600, to continue the modernisation of our fleet, started end 2019.”
Luc Bereni, Air Corsica’s Chairman of the Board, added: “Since our first flight in Spring 1990, the history of our airline is closely linked to ATR’s, with whom we continue to propel ourselves into the future with this order of five ATR 72-600 equipped with PW127XT engines. These new aircraft, that are even more efficient, will enable us to offer several innovations in terms of customer experience, whilst fulfilling our model of air travel in Corsica which has led to our success: frequency, regularity and reliability.”
ATR is reinforcing its role as the leading aircraft on regional routes thanks to its low fuel consumption, low CO2 emissions and the reliability of its operations. By connecting regional hubs to major airports, regional air transportation supports tourism, but its positive effects stretch beyond that to include access to education, health care, culture, and the global economy — all without the need to develop costly, complex road or rail infrastructure.
About Air Corsica:
- Corsica’s leading airline, with 46% of annual traffic (85% in the winter) from and to Corsica’s four airports: Ajaccio, Bastia, Calvi and Figari.
- Around 40 million passengers carried since first flight in 1990
- Two million passengers carried from 1April 2019 to 31 March 2020, which makes Air Corsica the 3rd airline in France
- A network of 33 routes between Corsica mainland France, including 12 public service routes.
- Regular air services during the year or during summer, and many metropolitan or international airports served as Paris-Orly, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Marseille, Nice, Lyon, Toulon, Toulouse, Dôle, Clermont-Ferrand, Bruxelles Charleroi, Londres Stansted, Porto, Salzburg, Vienna and Copenhagen.
- A fleet of 12 aircraft: five ATR 72-500, one ATR 42-500 and six Airbus A320, including two new generation A320neo.
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About ATR
ATR is the world number one regional aircraft manufacturer with its ATR 42 and 72, the best-selling aircraft in the below 90-seat market segment. The unifying vision of the company is to accelerate sustainable connections for people, communities and businesses, no matter how remote. Flown by some 200 airlines in over 100 countries, ATR aircraft opened 160 new routes in 2023, facilitating the development of territories and enabling access to crucial services like healthcare and education. Thanks to ATR’s focus on continuous innovation and the intrinsic efficiency of the turboprop technology, ATR aircraft are the most advanced, versatile, cost-effective and lowest-emission regional aircraft on the market, emitting 45% less CO2 than similar-size regional jets. In January 2022, we flew the first ever commercial aircraft using 100% SAF in both engines. ATR is a joint-venture between Airbus and Leonardo.