Toulouse, 05 December 2003
Air Tahiti took delivery of its fifth ATR 42-500 aircraft on December 4th 2003 in Toulouse.
Air Tahiti signed a contract this year for two additional ATR 42-500s. The second aircraft of this contract is scheduled to be delivered in June 2004.
With this new delivery, the long-standing ATR operator (since 1986) will operate a fleet of 10 ATRs (5 ATR 42-500s and 5 ATR 72-500s) on its inter-island network.
Since 1980, air traffic in the Polynesian archipel has been increasing at an annual average rate from 7 to 10% as a result of hotel development on the islands as well as a boost in the local economy. The airline’s network includes 42 islands scattered over the full dimension of French Polynesia. The shortest route is 15km (Tahiti-Moorea) and the longest 1600km (Tahiti-Mangavera).
In the Asian Pacific area, 87 ATRs are currently operated by 19 operators.
ATR is an equal partnership between EADS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company) and Finmeccanica/Alenia Aeronautica and is the world leader in the 50 to 70 seat turboprop market.
ATR website: www.atraircraft.com
Picture: http://www.atraircraft.com/mediac/customersgallery/photoC.htm
Frédéric Lahache
Phone : 33 5 62 21 60 61
Fax : 33 5 62 21 68 00
E-mail : frederic.lahache@atr.fr
