EADS N.V. - Air New Zealand orders one ATR 72-500 aircraft

ATR (Avions de Transport Régional) and Air New Zealand announced today an order for one new generation ATR 72-500 aircraft. With this new order, the New Zealand ATR customer since 1995 will increase its total fleet to 11 ATR 72s.

The aircraft is scheduled to be delivered in November this year.
Air New Zealand regional subsidiary Mount Cook Airlines based in Christchurch will operate the aircraft to increase its network flights to 600 per week from 550.

“We are very satisfied with the operation of the ATR aircraft in terms of comfort, low fuel consumption and environmental qualities. The ATR aircraft is particularly well adapted to our needs and with this order we will be able to satisfy our increasing number of customers” Peter O’Regan, General Manager of Mount Cook Airlines, declared.

Air New Zealand’s network is focused on the South Pacific, with services from Europe, North America, and Asia to New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands. Domestic and provincial services are operated by its subsidiaries.

Air New Zealand is member of Star Alliance, which has a membership of 15 airlines in the world. Star Alliance currently operates a total of 79 ATR aircraft.

Filippo Bagnato, Chief Executive Officer of ATR declared: “We are very delighted with this new order from Air New Zealand, which demonstrates the confidence in the ATR product. The ATR 72-500 delivered to Air New Zealand will be the 300th ATR 72 to be produced.”

ATR developed a strong presence in the Asia Pacific region with 88 aircraft operated by 19 airlines.

ATR has sold 688 aircraft (381 ATR 42 and 307 ATR 72) since the beginning of the programme and posts a total of 12 orders since 1st January 2004.

Toulouse-based ATR is the world leader in the 50 to 70-seat turboprop market. ATR is an equal partnership between Alenia Aeronautica (Finmeccanica Group) and EADS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company).