ATR has signed a Letter of Intent with Ethiopian MRO, part of the Ethiopian Airlines Group, to develop its ATR aircraft maintenance and training capabilities.
The agreement covers the development of its ATR maintenance capabilities and the establishment of a local spares stock, reducing response times for ATR operators in the region. The pair will also explore ways to train new ATR pilots with the Ethiopian pilot academy.
Ato Mesfin Tasew Bekele, Ethiopian Airlines Group’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “This collaboration reinforces Ethiopia’s positioning as a key hub, and the fact that an established OEM such as ATR approaches us to leverage our capabilities for their fleet and operators is a testament to the recognition we have earned.”
Photo: ATR
Africa is and remains a key market for ATR. Two-thirds of routes are under 500 nm and operated daily or less – ideal for turboprop aircraft. However, Ethiopian Airlines does not currently own any ATRs in its fleet, instead opting for Dash 8-400s.
36 operators have 131 ATR aircraft which operate in Africa and the Middle East, making Ethiopian Airlines the idea local partner to cater to these operators across both regions.
Nathalie Tarnaud Laude, ATR’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “Ethiopian MRO’s significant investments over the past years to expand their facilities, combined with their dedication to developing their capabilities, present a timely opportunity for ATR to provide better support to our African and Middle Eastern operators. We are confident this cooperation will help boost regional aviation locally and unlock further potential for growth for ATR.”
