While most consider air transport a convenience, in many parts of the world, it becomes a real necessity. Some remote regions, islands and mountainous communities lack the road or rail infrastructure to reach essential services and economic opportunities and rely heavily on flights.
For these areas, regional air travel plays a vital role in ensuring access to healthcare, education, trade, and emergency support. However, not any aircraft can be adequate for such services: such difficult conditions require reliable aircraft that are also purpose-built for performance in challenging environments.
This is where ATR makes a tangible difference. As the global leader in regional aviation, ATR has delivered aircraft to over 200 airlines in more than 100 countries since its founding in 1981. Its aircraft have become a lifeline for isolated communities around the world, enabling regional connectivity even in areas with limited infrastructure.
Aircraft designed for regional realities
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ATR’s family of aircraft (the ATR 42-600, ATR 72-600, and ATR 72-600F freighter) are designed specifically for the demands of regional aviation. Equipped with turboprop engines, they consume 45% less fuel and emit 45% less CO2 than regional jets of similar size. This efficiency makes them not only cost-effective but environmentally responsible, helping operators serve thin or low-demand routes that would be unviable with larger aircraft.
What sets ATR aircraft apart is their ability to land on short, narrow, or unpaved runways, allowing access to airports that are unreachable for most commercial jets. Whether it’s a mountainous strip in Papua New Guinea or a gravel airfield in northern Canada, ATR’s aircraft are built to adapt.
Enabling inclusive and sustainable mobility
Beyond operational efficiency, ATR’s contribution to regional mobility reflects a deeper commitment to social inclusion and sustainable development. Its aircraft connect secondary cities and remote territories to national and global networks: bringing not only passengers but also goods, ideas, and opportunities where they are needed most.
By enabling airlines to open and maintain underserved routes, ATR supports economic resilience in regions often overlooked by traditional aviation models. According to the company, its approach helps ensure that essential public services, such as medical care and education, remain within reach for communities far from major urban centres.
A forward-looking vision
Looking ahead, ATR continues to invest in making regional connectivity even more sustainable. The company aims to achieve 100% compatibility with Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) by 2030 (in line with ASTM fuel standard developments .), aligning with broader aviation goals to reduce emissions and support its climate commitments. It has already demonstrated leadership in this area, completing the world’s first 100% SAF-powered flight in a commercial regional aircraft in 2022.
In parallel, ATR is exploring the EVO concept, a next-generation aircraft platform featuring hybrid-capability, enhanced propulsion system and improved aerodynamics to further reduce emissions and operating costs. These innovations show ATR’s clear intent: to maintain essential regional air services while significantly lowering their environmental footprint.
Keeping communities connected
With climate issues and sustainability becoming ever more important, ATR exemplifies the evolution of global transportation: one that meets all the unique demands of regional flight and its communities. For reliable, efficient and sustainable air transport even in the world’s most remote corners.