Turboprop manufacturer ATR is celebrating its 1,600th aircraft delivery – a milestone that it said highlights the enduring strength of the ATR programme.
ATR’s CEO Stefano Bortoli said: “We are of course proud of this achievement and I recognise the hard work and dedication of every ATR employee, past and present, in getting us here.
“As we have recently celebrated 40 years of making a difference, it is the perfect moment to think about how ATR has supported communities throughout New Zealand.
“Passengers really depend on our aircraft to access opportunities to do business, study or simply see their loved ones. An aircraft needs to be efficient and versatile to thrive in New Zealand, so it makes perfect sense to build a fleet of turboprops.”
ATR’s landmark 1,600th aircraft delivery was to national flag carrier Air New Zealand.
Commenting on the relationship between the two companies, Air New Zealand’s chief executive Greg Foran said: “ We really value our longstanding relationship with ATR and this will be the 29th to join our fleet since 2012. During that time the fleet of ATRs have boosted the airline’s regional network by over 50 per cent and they have proven extremely efficient. Our ATRs have helped us build one of the best domestic networks in the world and have flown an estimated 33.5 million passengers on more than 636,000 flights around New Zealand.”
