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Some airlines have paused decisions over fleet replacement amid concerns about geopolitical threats to the global economy, according to ATR chief commercial officer Alexis Vidal. The regional aircraft maker had a strong start to its 2026 sales campaign with 12 firm orders for its 48- to 70-seat twin turboprops, but while closing deals may now be harder, Vidal told AIN that there have been no order cancellations or delivery deferrals.
The European manufacturer has few customers directly impacted by the Iran war, but elevated fuel costs are denting airline balance sheets globally. At the same time, ATR is investing effort to make the case for a more constructive government attitude to regional air services.
In India, the response has been positive with officials extending a regional connectivity scheme for another 10 years. But closer to home in the European Union, the company felt the need to speak out against policies such as anti-tankering restrictions, which Vidal said “penalize society more than they benefit.”
ATR uses what it calls its “mobility monitor” that analyzes gigantic sets of GPS data from devices to better understand where short-haul air services would be better alternatives to constrained road and rail links. Vidal said that India is a prime test case for this approach to supporting airlines and stakeholders.
The Indian data shows four billion inter-city trips, of which only 3% are flown. If this increased to a more typical global average of 7% to 8%, ATR believes it could double the number of its aircraft now operating in the country, and with 45% lower fuel burn than with jets.
Meanwhile, ATR is seeing growing interest in its HighLine premium cabin interior option designed to elevate the commuter flying experience. Operators including Air Tahiti and JSX in California are now, respectively, operating 30-seat versions of the ATR 72 and ATR 42. An undisclosed Canadian company has ordered a HighLine ATR42-600 with 23 seats and the X-Space Table option to replace its corporate jet.