The turboprop plane maker is a popular choice for airlines seeking to expand their business in areas with shorter runways and challenging terrain.
Jean-Pierre Clercin, ATR managing director and head of Asia Pacific, said they expect robust demand to continue in the Philippines as new gateways come online.
This includes the roughly $2 billion Phase 1 of the Sangley International Airport in Cavite, touted as a potential alternative to Ninoy Aquino International Airport, alongside the Bulacan International Airport of San Miguel Corp.
“Sangley…will be interesting. This could be an ideal airport for ATRs,” Clercin said on the sidelines of the Singapore Airshow 2026.
“We see a huge potential in the market,” he added.
NAIA exit a setback but ATR sees new opportunities for expansion
The company said about 35 ATR aircraft already operate in the country, with customers that include Cebu Pacific’s Cebgo and AirSWIFT, Sunlight Air and Alpaland.
With airlines shifting turboprop operations out of Ninoy Aquino International Airport because of slot constraints, the move marks a setback for the aircraft manufacturer, which is a four-decade-old venture between aerospace giant Airbus and Italy’s Leonardo.
“I think it takes out connectivity from a like a transportation and a mobility perspective for people that wanted to connect from a small city to Manila,” Clercin said.
“But maybe he can he can he will generate a new opportunities as well from a network perspective," he said.
"That’s the fate of the ATR [because] the ATR can be going in some other places and develop a new market," Clercin explained.
Big picture
ATR is the world’s largest maker of medium regional turboprops, with more than 1,700 aircraft delivered and over 1,300 currently in service worldwide.
Globally, the firm is projecting strong demand given its forecast for 2,100 new passenger turboprops and 500 freighters to be sold from 2025 to 2045.
According to the manufacturer, its planes currently burn about 45 percent less fuel than small jets and are already certified for 50 percent sustainable aviation fuel, with a target of 100 percent SAF by 2030.
Miguel R. Camus has been a reporter covering various domestic business topics since 2009.
