ATR is forecasting demand for approximately 750 turboprops over the next two decades in the Asia-Pacific region (excluding China), with the market accounting for over one third of the total fleet.
The manufacturer said in an announcement during the Singapore Airshow that with nearly 1,200 ATRs globally, some 420 of those are in Asia-Pacific, ranking it top in terms of the number in operation. Of the top 10 countries in the world, in terms of ATR fleet size, four are in APAC, with Indonesia leading the way with 99 aircraft. Second in the region is Malaysia (47, ranking it fifth globally), with India on 46 (sixth globally) and Myanmar with 34 (tenth globally).
CEO Christian Scherer said there was “a real need for greater air connectivity in the region to further drive economic growth. Many cities and towns in Asia-Pacific need more air services and there are many places that still have no or very few air services.” He added that last year, its aircraft “created 70 new routes in Asia-Pacific alone, thus bringing regional connectivity to new places and expanding business opportunities for regional carriers.”
