Long-time ATR customer Air Tahiti signed a new purchase agreement with the Franco-Italian turboprop manufacturer for four ATR 72-600 aircraft. Deliveries of the twin turboprops are scheduled between 2025 and 2028 and will support the airline’s planned flight frequency and capacity expansion.
Air Tahiti has been deploying ATR aircraft for nearly 40 years to provide essential connectivity to the communities in Tahiti and its islands. The airline currently operates a fleet of 11 aircraft, comprising nine ATR 72-600s and two ATR 42-600s.
“Air Tahiti has been a cornerstone in Tahiti and its islands for more than 65 years, facilitating not just travel but a better quality of life. By ensuring our communities have easy access to essential goods, services, and cultural experiences, we've also helped boost the local economy and tourism,” said Air Tahiti CEO Edouard Wong Fat. “The ATR fleet has been pivotal in these efforts and it will continue to enable us to offer reliable and responsible connectivity.”
The Tahitian carrier also renewed its global maintenance agreement with ATR for eight years. Under the pay-by-the-hour maintenance package, ATR will provide repair, overhaul, and pooling services of line-replaceable units.
To strengthen its aftermarket presence in Africa and the Middle East, ATR signed a letter of intent with Ethiopian Airlines Group subsidiary Ethiopian MRO to develop maintenance capabilities for ATR aircraft types. The agreement also calls for the establishment of a local spares stock to reduce response time for ATR operators in the region. It would also explore collaborative ways to train new ATR pilots with the Ethiopian pilot academy.
“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,” said ATR CEO Nathalie Tarnaud Laude. “We are confident this cooperation will help boost regional aviation locally and unlock further potential for growth for ATR. Our operators will benefit from an improved quality of service, lower maintenance costs, reduced downtimes, and lower emissions through the support of an experienced partner close to their needs.”
ATR established at the end of 2023 a regional field service representative in Ethiopia as a key initiative to be closer to its customers.