Turboprop lessor Abelo converts STOL order into regular ATR 42-600, ATR 72-600s

On January 10, 2024, leasing firm Abelo announced that it has converted the entirety of an outstanding order for ten ATR 42 STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) turboprop aircraft into an equal number of regular ATR aircraft – specifically, five ATR 42-600s and five ATR 72-600s. Additionally, Abelo has firmed up its order for another three ATR 72-600s. 

The ATR 42 STOLs were originally part of a larger 20 aircraft order placed by Abelo during the 2022 Farnborough Air Show. 

This move follows the decision, announced by the European aircraft manufacturer in November 2024, to discontinue the development of the STOL version of the ATR 42 aircraft and drop it from the product range. ATR has admitted that it may have overestimated the market for this type of specialized aircraft.  

Designed for operators that fly into small, regional airports with short runways, the business case for the ATR STOL aircraft has been weakened by infrastructure investments in regions such as south-east Asia, which have involved runway extensions at numerous airports. 

Dublin-based Abelo, which specializes in turboprop leasing, stated that the decision to convert the previous order into regular ATR aircraft demonstrates its commitment to this segment of the market, in which demand from operators remains strong. 

Mathieu Duquesnoy, Chief Marketing Officer at Abelo, told AeroTime: “This investment reflects the growing demand for advanced turboprop solutions in the regional aviation market, aligning perfectly with Abelo’s mission to drive the transition to environmentally responsible air travel.”  The post Turboprop lessor Abelo converts STOL order into regular ATR 42-600, ATR 72-600s appeared first on AeroTime.

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