ATR - Avions de Transport Régional (EVX, Toulouse Blagnac) has secured its first-ever order in China after an undisclosed customer firmly committed to three ATR42-600s.

According to local media, the order came from a local state-owned enterprise in China, with plans to establish a new general aviation company using ATR42-600s. In addition, other domestic customers are said to be in talks with ATR.

The news was revealed during the ongoing Zhuhai Airshow. The Franco-Italian manufacturer also confirmed that it has now received a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the smaller of its two variants from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). ATR had hoped to obtain the certificate for the -600 variant in 2020, but the procedures were halted by the pandemic.

The ch-aviation fleets history shows that ATR has a limited experience in the Chinese market. While the -500 variants were certified in the country, their operational history is limited to five ATR72-500s delivered new to China Xinjiang Airlines in 1997-1998. In 2004, the five aircraft were integrated into the fleet of parent carrier China Southern Airlines, and were subsequently retired in 2011. Since then, there has not been an ATR aircraft operated in China.

The French manufacturer is nonetheless more successful than its rival De Havilland Aircraft of Canada on the Chinese market. The only three DHC-8-Q400s ever operated in China were flying between 2000 and 2006 for Chang An Airlines.