Atr-72-500

Twin Turboprop· 3 globally registered

The ATR 72-500 is the workhorse of regional turboprop aviation, built by the French-Italian consortium ATR (Avions de Transport Régional) and introduced in 1997 as a stretched, more powerful evolution of the original ATR 72. With seating for 68–74 passengers and a range of roughly 900 nautical miles, it dominates short-haul routes across Southeast Asia, the Pacific islands, Europe, and Latin America where jet economics don't pencil out. Its twin Pratt & Whitney PW127F engines deliver 2,750 shaft horsepower each, enabling operations from short runways and high-altitude airfields that larger jets cannot serve, while burning about 40 percent less fuel per seat than comparable regional jets. The type's high wing and rugged landing gear make it a favorite for island-hopping and remote communities with unpaved or marginal strips. Operators prize the ATR 72's low acquisition cost, simple maintenance, and exceptional fuel efficiency on sectors under 300 miles, where turboprops still outperform jets on a cost-per-seat basis. The -500 variant introduced a glass cockpit and improved avionics over earlier models, and remains in widespread service alongside the newer -600 series. Its maximum cruise speed of 276 knots and service ceiling of 25,000 feet are modest by jet standards, but perfectly suited to the regional mission where frequency and economics matter more than raw speed. SkyMeter has tracked 2,053 flights across 91 airframes and 8 operators over routes, with FEDERAL EXPRESS CORP the largest observed operator.