A multi-engine, instrument rated pilot, James Wynbrandt has been an AIN and Business Jet Traveler contributor since 2003. His in-depth reporting and insightful features have won more than a dozen editorial honors, including two National Business Aviation Association Gold Wing Awards (2019; 2021), and his articles have also appeared in the New York Times, Barron’s, Fortune, Forbes, and Smithsonian Air &amp; Space. He has flown his Mooney M20K 252 on assignments throughout North and Central America and the Caribbean. Wynbrandt is also the author of Flying High (Wiley &amp; Sons), a biography of Jet Blue founder David Neeleman, as well as histories, references works, and books on a variety of other topics from major publishers. He lives in New York City.

Contributor - Business Aviation

James Wynbrandt

Dublin-based Abelo, a new aircraft leasing company focused on turboprop aircraft, ordered 10 ATR 72-600 regional transports from the French airframer at the Farnborough International Airshow. Abelo formed in June from the merger of Elix Aviation—which signed in 2019 as launch customer for ATR’s upcoming ATR 42-600S (STOL) turboprop—and Adare Aviation Capital.&nbsp;Abelo will take delivery of the 10 ATR 42-600Ss from the Elix launch order.

 


ATR expects to begin deliveries of the ATR 72-600s in 2023, with 42-600S deliveries starting&nbsp;in 2025. The sides disclosed no financial details, but the 20 aircraft in total represent “several hundreds of millions of dollars,” said Stefano Bortoli, CEO of Blagnac, France-based ATR.

 


Abelo CEO Steve Gorman said along with growing demand for aircraft to serve airports with short runways unreachable by jet transports, sustainability and ESG awareness will serve as&nbsp;a strong leasing motivator for the turboprop platforms, which burn less fuel and have a lower carbon footprint than equivalent-size jets.

 


No operators for the forthcoming ATRs were announced, but Gorman said Southeast Asia represents a prime market for both the 72-600 and the 42-600S, and he sees demand “in emerging markets in particular” for the 42-600S.

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

New Leasing Firm Abelo Orders 10 ATR 72-600s

Dublin-based leasing firm Abelo, already slated to take 10 of ATR's upcoming 42-600S turboprops, has now added 10 ATR 72-600s.

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