AEROSPATIALE ATR SERIES

ATR Series for Sale — Buy or Sell ATR 42 and ATR 72 Regional Turboprop Aircraft

The ATR Series — produced by ATR (Aerei da Trasporto Regionale), a Franco-Italian consortium formed by Aérospatiale of France and Alenia Aeronautica of Italy — represents the world's most successful family of regional turboprop airliners. Since the ATR 42 entered service in 1985, the ATR family has dominated the regional aviation market, offering airlines an unmatched combination of fuel efficiency, reliable operation on short and medium-haul routes, and low operating costs compared to regional jets. With over 1,800 aircraft delivered to operators in more than 100 countries, the ATR Series is a cornerstone of global regional air transport. On Airplane Trade, buyers and sellers of ATR 42 and ATR 72 aircraft connect through a professional marketplace serving the regional airline and charter markets.

History and Development

The ATR program was launched in the early 1980s as a joint project between France's Aérospatiale and Italy's Aeritalia (later Alenia) to produce a next-generation turboprop regional airliner. The ATR 42 — designed to carry 42–50 passengers — entered service with Air Littoral in December 1985, immediately establishing itself as a fuel-efficient and reliable alternative to aging piston and first-generation turboprop aircraft. The larger ATR 72, stretched to accommodate 68–78 passengers, entered service in 1989 and quickly became one of the best-selling regional aircraft of the modern era. Both variants share the same high-wing twin-turboprop configuration, common cockpit, and the industry's most advanced regional propulsion system in the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW100 series engines. Over the following decades, ATR introduced the -200, -500, and -600 series variants with progressively more powerful engines, improved avionics, and enhanced cabin configurations.

ATR 42 vs. ATR 72: Key Differences

• ATR 42 — Shorter fuselage; 42–50 passenger capacity; optimized for thin routes and smaller regional markets; maximum range approximately 900–1,100 nm
• ATR 72 — Stretched fuselage (+14 frames); 68–78 passenger capacity; the best-selling variant; dominates regional turboprop market globally; maximum range approximately 900–1,100 nm
• Common features — Identical cockpit design; same PW127 engine family (on -500/-600 series); common type rating for crews; same maintenance philosophy and support ecosystem

Performance Specifications (ATR 72-600)

• Engines — 2× Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127M, 2,750 shp each
• Maximum Cruise Speed — 275 ktas (510 km/h) at FL170–FL250
• Maximum Range — 1,528 nm (2,830 km) with maximum payload
• Service Ceiling — 25,000 ft (7,620 m)
• Maximum Takeoff Weight — 23,000 kg (50,706 lbs)
• Passenger Capacity — 68–78 in standard configuration
• Cargo Volume — 14.6 m³ (516 cu ft) belly hold
• Fuel Burn — Approximately 1,150 kg/hr — best-in-class turboprop efficiency
• TOFL (ISA, sea level) — 1,290 m (4,232 ft)

Operational Advantages

The ATR Series' commercial success rests on several key operational advantages that make it the preferred choice for regional operators worldwide:

• Fuel efficiency — ATR aircraft burn up to 40% less fuel than comparable regional jets on short-haul routes, dramatically reducing seat-mile costs
• Short-field performance — The high-wing turboprop configuration allows operations from runways as short as 1,000–1,200 meters, opening routes inaccessible to jets
• Hot-and-high capability — Proven performance in challenging high-altitude environments including operations in Nepal, Ethiopia, and the Andes
• Cabin comfort — Modern ATR 600-series cabin with LED lighting, larger overhead bins, and improved seat pitch competes favorably with regional jets
• Low maintenance costs — PW127 engines have high TBO intervals and excellent parts availability through a global support network

Market Applications

ATR aircraft serve an extraordinary range of operational environments:

• Scheduled regional service — Thin-route feed to hub airports; inter-island operations; remote community service
• Charter and ACMI operations — Flexible deployment for leisure, contract, and emergency transport missions
• Cargo conversion — ATR freighter variants and cargo-converted passenger aircraft serve express freight and postal networks
• Medevac and special missions — Modified ATRs serve medical evacuation, surveillance, and government transport roles

Buy or Sell an ATR Series Aircraft on Airplane Trade

At Airplane Trade, we provide a professional marketplace for commercial aviation transactions including the ATR 42 and ATR 72 series. Whether you are an airline seeking to expand your turboprop fleet, an ACMI operator searching for available capacity, or an investor looking to place an aircraft on lease, our platform connects you with qualified counterparts across the global aviation market. List your ATR with complete technical specifications, maintenance status, and commercial history to attract serious buyers, or search current inventory to find the ATR variant that fits your operational requirements. Contact us today to begin your ATR transaction on Airplane Trade.