Dublin-based Abelo, a new aircraft leasing company focused on turboprop aircraft, ordered 10 ATR 72-600 regional transports from the French airframer at the Farnborough International Airshow. Abelo formed in June from the merger of Elix Aviation—which signed in 2019 as launch customer for ATR’s upcoming ATR 42-600S (STOL) turboprop—and Adare Aviation Capital. Abelo will take delivery of the 10 ATR 42-600Ss from the Elix launch order.
ATR expects to begin deliveries of the ATR 72-600s in 2023, with 42-600S deliveries starting in 2025. The sides disclosed no financial details, but the 20 aircraft in total represent “several hundreds of millions of dollars,” said Stefano Bortoli, CEO of Blagnac, France-based ATR.
Abelo CEO Steve Gorman said along with growing demand for aircraft to serve airports with short runways unreachable by jet transports, sustainability and ESG awareness will serve as a strong leasing motivator for the turboprop platforms, which burn less fuel and have a lower carbon footprint than equivalent-size jets.
No operators for the forthcoming ATRs were announced, but Gorman said Southeast Asia represents a prime market for both the 72-600 and the 42-600S, and he sees demand “in emerging markets in particular” for the 42-600S.