Turboprop manufacturer ATR has presented data ahead of the RAA Leaders Conference, showing that it believes that regional air travel in the United States is at a turning point.

The company explained that the country’s aging fleet of 50-seater regional jets will soon need to be retired, and without a cost-effective replacement in place, scores of regional airports will lose essential connectivity.

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ATR says that it has analysed historical and current air networks, including a study conducted by Seabury Airline Strategy Group, and identified a demand for 300 aircraft in the near future.

“The U.S. regional market is at a crossroad,” said Alexis Vidal, Senior Vice President Commercial at ATR. “With 300 regional jets retiring and dozens of communities facing the real possibility of losing air service, this is about more than aircraft. It’s about offering a proven, efficient solution to reconnect communities, and grant them a quick access to economic opportunities throughout the country. It’s about offering airlines an efficient way forward to unlock untapped demand and open new routes profitably, even with fewer passengers. This is not just about replacing aircraft, it’s about revitalizing regional America.”