AP Interview: CEO of plane maker ATR sees US airlines turning to turboprops

ATR looks to US market for turbopropos

FARNBOROUGH, England — French-Italian regional turboprop manufacturer ATR expects a pickup in demand for propeller-driven planes in the U.S. as airlines look to fuel efficiency.

Filippe Bagnato, CEO of the Toulouse-based company, told The Associated Press in an interview on Wednesday that he expects turboprops to replace jets on short haul routes like New York-Washington when U.S. airlines renew their aging fleets.

He forsees a revival of turboprops — which typically consume at least a third less fuel than equivalent jets. He said the latest generation of turboprops have addressed some of the comfort and noise issues that had pushed airlines to favor jets.

Around 100 ATRs are currently flown by U.S. airlines.