The regional aircraft market continues to be a key growth sector withincommercial aviation, contributing significantly to efficiencies in the airlinenetworks and ensuring safe and seamless mobility, while respectingenvironmental obligations.

Regional carriers typically operate aircraft, such as regional jets andturboprops, with a seating capacity ranging from 20 to 130 seats, on short tomedium-haul routes. By the end of 2015 the regional aviation world fleetcomprised of about 9000 units (4350 turboprop and 4650 regional jet)representing more than 33% of the worldwide commercial fleet and performingover 40% of total commercial flights (and 25% of total flight hours).

In the recent past the annual worldwide traffic served by regionalaviation exceeded 700 billion ASK (Available Seat Kilometres). Only in Europewere regional carriers able to offer more than 120 billion ASKs to passengers,with an average distance of 320 NM (about 600 km) and more than 200 millionpeople flew on regional aircraft within the European network.

Regional aviation demonstrated its strongest traffic growth over thelast two decades. In the next 20 years regional air traffic is expected totriple at an average yearly rate of 6% (compared to a 5% rate in totalcommercial aviation).

The regional market is currently led by non-European players, with theexception of turboprop manufacturer ATR (a 50/50 Joint Venture between Leonardoand Airbus Group). For Europe‘s aeronautical industry there‘s a clear andurgent need to invest in developing new technologies in order to recover globalleadership.

The integration of innovative and affordable technologies in futureaircraft platforms is a key success factor for manufacturers as it increasesthe appeal and customer benefits, providing a better inflight experience forpassengers. Furthermore, airlines derive significant economic advantages fromoperating modern aircraft which are more efficient, eco-friendly, easier andcost-efficient to manage and maintain, saving money through the reduction ofoperating costs.

New and improved technologies positively impact all these elements,contributing to a reduction in operating costs through lower fuel burn, reducedmaintenance costs, reduced navigation and airport fees as a result ofstructural weight savings due to innovative aircraft configurations and the useof lighter materials.

All these benefits and economic advantages will be even more evidentfor regional turboprop aircraft that are typically less expensive to operatethan regional jets. Technological enhancements also appeal to passengers whocan enjoy a better inflight experience thanks to improved comfort and lowercabin noise levels, and this means less noise in and around airports too.

Clearly, investment in developing new technologies represents afundamental differentiator for everyone in the aviation industry.

Reginal aircraft will be a very good element to connect the airports inChina, especially in the northwest of China. I know it is a full system, it’sno harm to get started from one aspect.

Next week, we will dive in Oshkosh airventure 2019. See you then.