TBM Staff - Mumbai Jean-Pierre Clercin, the Head of Commercial for Asia Pacific at ATR, shared the company’s expectation that India will emerge as its leading market in the next 10 years. ATR, a joint venture between Airbus and Leonardo, has witnessed a significant surge in demand for its aircraft in India, coinciding with the country’s 6% growth in tourist arrivals in 2023.
India currently hosts 67 operational ATR planes, with major carriers such as IndiGo, Alliance Air, and Fly91 utilizing these aircraft for regional travel, linking smaller cities and towns. Renowned for their seating capacities ranging from 70 to 80 and a range of 1,500 km, ATR planes have played a crucial role in meeting the rising demand for regional air travel in India.
Clercin emphasized that the average age of ATR planes in India is the lowest globally, underscoring the strategic significance of the Indian market for the aviation industry. With India currently ranking among the top three countries globally in terms of the number of ATR aircraft, Clercin expressed confidence that India would secure the top position within the next decade, surpassing countries such as Indonesia and Brazil.
Addressing the potential demand for turboprop planes in India over the next 10-20 years, Clercin estimated a range of 50 to 150 planes based on official estimates. However, he hinted that the actual demand might surpass these projections, emphasising the growing need for enhanced connectivity in secondary cities.
While discussions about additional orders with IndiGo were not confirmed, Clercin underscored the pivotal role of expanding connectivity in regional areas. This aligns with the government’s focus on enhancing regional connectivity under the UDAN regional connectivity scheme.
