The global slowdown in the regional aircraft market continued in 2016, with ATR announcing a total of 36 orders for the year, compared with 76 the previous year and a peak of 160 in 2014. Despite the challenging market conditions, the Franco-Italian manufacturer consolidated its leading position in the 50/90-seat segment, where it claims a market share above 35% since 2010.

The company recorded its second-highest turnover ever ($1.8bn), as deliveries reached a third-highest total of 80 aircraft,  following last year’s record of 88 aircraft. The year-end backlog represents around three years of production.
 
Orders booked in 2016 had a distinctly Latin American flavour. Highlights included the introduction of ATR -600s to Argentina, with an order for 12 ATR 72-600s from Avian Lineas Aéreas, a subsidiary of Synergy Aerospace. The first aircraft was delivered on 18th January.

The company also received follow-on orders from Mexico’s Aeromar (two 42-600s and six 72-600s) and Spanish carrier Binter (six 72-600s), plus additional orders from Papua New-Guinea’s PNG Air and Brazil’s Azul Linhas Aéreas (five 72-600s each).
 
In other news, the company delivered its first aircraft to Japan on 20th January as it handed over the first of nine ATR 42-600s ordered by Japan Airlines subsidiary Japan Air Commuter.