ATR Continues Surge
ATR announced a pair of big commercial deals involving its regional turboprops this week, building on an exceptional showing in 2010 that saw

ATR announced a pair of big commercial deals involving its regional turboprops this week, building on an exceptional showing in 2010 that saw ATR’s management lay plans to raise production from just more than 50 airplanes to 70 by 2012.

Just today the Franco-Italian manufacturer said that Indonesia’s Lion Air and its regional subsidiary, Wings Air, signed an “operational contract” for the purchase of 15 ATR 72-500s. The order represents a conversion of options taken in 2009, when Lion Air placed its first firm order for 15 of the 72-seat turboprops. Today’s deal raises the number of ATR 72-500s on order from the airline to 30, eventually making Wings Air ATR’s largest customer in Southeast Asia.