Air Tahiti signs new purchase agreement with Franco-Italian manufacturer

The Tahitian carrier also renewed its global maintenance agreement with ATR for eight years. Under the pay-by-the-hour maintenance package, ATR will provide repair, overhaul, and pooling services of line-replaceable units.

To strengthen its aftermarket presence in Africa and the Middle East, ATR signed a letter of intent with Ethiopian Airlines Group subsidiary Ethiopian MRO to develop maintenance capabilities for ATR aircraft types. The agreement also calls for the establishment of a local spares stock to reduce response time for ATR operators in the region. It would also explore collaborative ways to train new ATR pilots with the Ethiopian pilot academy.

“Ethiopian MRO’s significant investments over the past years to expand their facilities, combined with their dedication to developing their capabilities, present a timely opportunity for ATR to provide better support to our African and Middle Eastern operators,” said ATR CEO Nathalie Tarnaud Laude. “We are confident this cooperation will help boost regional aviation locally and unlock further potential for growth for ATR. Our operators will benefit from an improved quality of service, lower maintenance costs, reduced downtimes, and lower emissions through the support of an experienced partner close to their needs.”

ATR established at the end of 2023 a regional field service representative in Ethiopia as a key initiative to be closer to its customers.