In addition to the clear advantages that the integration of innovative and affordable technologies in future regional aircraft platforms will bring, other sectors such as the automotive, rail, shipbuilding and construction industries could benefit from the potential applications of specific breakthrough technologies developed for the aeronautic sector (new materials, engineering solutions, innovative systems, greener and cheaper production processes), thereby creating a ‘virtuous circle’ for the development of the European economy and the creation of jobs. The integration of innovative and affordable technologies in future regional aircraft platforms is a key success factor for manufacturers as it increases the appeal and customer benefits by providing a better inflight experience for passengers, thanks to improved comfort and lower cabin noise levels, including less noise in and around airports too. For Europe’s aeronautical industry there’s a clear and urgent need to invest in developing new technologies in order to recover global leadership. However, it is currently led by non-European players, with the exception of turboprop manufacturer ATR (a 50/50 joint venture between Leonardo and Airbus Group, standing for Aerei da Transporto Regionale or Avions de Transport Regional). The regional aircraft market continues to be a key growth sector within commercial aviation, contributing significantly to efficiencies in the airline networks and ensuring safe and seamless mobility, while respecting environmental obligations. ![]() The role of Clean Sky’s Regional Aircraft programme is to validate the integration of technologies onto regional aircraft at a higher level of complexity than that which was achieved in the Clean Sky 1 Green Regional Aircraft (GRA) programme, in order to drastically de-risk their integration on future products. ![]() Over the next 20 years (once the traffic drop due to the COVID-19 pandemic has been absorbed and recovered), regional air traffic is expected to increase at an average yearly rate of over 4.5% (compared to a 4% rate expected in total commercial aviation), generating a market demand of over 8200 new regional aircraft – including the large regional aircraft – with a market value of about €390 billion (averaging €19.5 billion per year). In terms of regional connectivity 36% of existing airports rely exclusively on turboprop- operated services. At the same time roughly 38% of world city pairs was served by regional aircraft, which can perform about 40% of the total departures and around 36% of the total flown hours. Thanks to their widespread diffusion, regional aircraft operated routes and connections accounted for over the 12% of world ASK (available seat kilometers) before the outbreak.Īt the beginning of 2020, the regional aviation world fleet was performing scheduled connections of roughly 9300 units (regional turboprops were around 5000 units with an average age of 23 years regional jets were the remaining part with an average age of 12 years) representing more than 30% of the worldwide commercial fleet. Regional aviation demonstrated its strongest traffic growth over the last three decades (pre-pandemic). Regional carriers typically operate aircraft, such as regional jets and turboprops, with a seating capacity ranging from 19 to 130 seats, on short to medium-haul routes. ![]() Regional Aircraft: what are the challenges?
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