ATR Turnover Grows 30% in 2006

ATR has reported a turnover of US$ 700 million in 2006, a growth of about 30% compared to the previous year (US$ 542 million revenue in 2005, based on IAS standard). 2006 has confirmed the strong recovery of the turboprop market already experienced in 2005.

2006 Status

ATR has booked orders for 63 new aircraft plus 25 options. Some orders have not been yet unveiled.  “Once again this year we have entered new customers convinced of the qualities of our aircraft in terms of economics, environment and comfort”, declared Filippo Bagnato, ATR CEO. “In addition to the confirmation of our commercial success in Europe and Asia, orders in Africa lifted up to 12 aircraft on that continent, which represents 20% of ATR order intakes in 2006”. 

From the beginning of the programme, ATR has sold 837 aircraft (401 ATR 42s and 436 ATR 72s), through 31 December 2006.

The ATR portfolio is today composed of 126 operators, including 11 new operators in 2006, in more than 70 countries. ATR has delivered 24 aircraft in 2006 versus 15 deliveries in 2005. From the beginning of the programme, ATR has delivered 713 aircraft (390 ATR 42s and 323 ATR 72s), through 31 December 2006.

The company has a backlog of 124 aircraft through 31 December 2006, an increase of some 40% compared to 2005. ATR market share in 2006 is about 60%.

The second-hand market still remains very dynamic and has experienced once again a strong activity in 2006, thus contributing to increase the residual value of the ATR aircraft. ATR posted 31 aircraft transactions (24 ATR 42s and 7 ATR 72s) including 12 cash sales. ATR delivered 29 second-hand aircraft.

To face the strong production ramp up, the ATR staff increased by 18.5% in 2006. The workforce now stands at 642 employees through 31 December 2006. An additional increase is scheduled in 2007.

In 2006, ATR significantly developed its support and services capabilities worldwide. In order to be more reactive and closer to its customers, ATR moved two of its spare parts distribution centers. One from Toulouse to Paris (Roissy), and the other from Washington to Miami.

Spare parts and services activities posted a strong increase in 2006 with 20% of additional orders. ATR also signed its biggest Global Maintenance Agreement (GMA) in 2006 with the Indian carrier Kingfisher Airlines. This US $50 million agreement covers spare parts and the maintenance of its fleet of ATR 72-500s. The GMA are adapted to the needs of each operator and include a large choice of services to make the aircraft operations easier and to reduce the maintenance costs.

Furthermore, the ATR training center in Toulouse acquired two last-generation flight simulators today certified: the Full-Flight Trainer (FFT). These new simulators give the opportunity to the airlines to improve the training level of the flight crew while reducing costs. In India, the first training center managed by ATR and Air Deccan is already in operation.

ATR plans to deliver 44 new aircraft in 2007 and more than 60 in 2008. This will allow turnover to further grow to around US $ 1 billion. On the regional market, the new turboprop aircraft has a very important growing potential, including emerging markets such as Russia, China, Africa or Latin America. In North America, there are also additional turboprop sales opportunities.

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