ATR collected firm orders for 80 new turboprops last year–exactly double the number it accumulated in 2009, the Franco-Italian company announced today during a press briefing in Paris. The manufacturer also reported revenues totaling $1.35 billion–almost three times the turnover it achieved in 2005.

All told, the company delivered 51 airplanes last year, compared with 54 in 2009 and 55 in 2008. As of last December 31, the company has delivered 915 airplanes (412 ATR 42s and 503 ATR 72s.)

The robust order count reflects what the company calls the first signs of the aviation industry’s recovery and a strong basis on which to raise its delivery total to 70 airplanes a year and draw revenues of $1.8 billion starting in 2012.

ATR ended 2010 with a backlog of 159 airplanes, compared with 136 at the end of 2009. The backlog includes 107 of the new ATR 72-600, scheduled for first delivery by the middle of this year, and five ATR 42-600s. It also holds unfilled orders for 42 ATR 72-500s and four ATR 42-500s.

“I am delighted that ATR has regained speed in 2010 by doubling the previous year’s order intake,” said ATR CEO Filippo Bagnato. “We registered significant orders from new customers in Latin America and the Caribbean region, as well as strong signs of confidence of lessor Air Lease Corp., thus increasing our worldwide presence. We have now a strong baseline to prepare ATR for next important step.”
Other progress in 2010 involved ATR’s customer support business, which the company bolstered by adding seven new global maintenance agreements (GMAs) covering 82 more aircraft. ATR service contracts now cover 306 ATR aircraft in all, representing 30 percent of the worldwide fleet in operation or on order.
Last year ATR Customer Services also launched ATRactive–an online tool designed to access and exchange information within ATR and among airlines and suppliers. With the new platform, ATR now collects 30 percent of its spares sales online. 
This year ATR plans to boost its customer support network further with the opening of new training facilities in Toronto, Paris, Johannesburg and Bangalore.