French-Italian regional aircraft manufacturer ATR has unveiled the advanced design for all business class interiors offered on its ATR72 series aircraft. The interior, called “ATR Highline”, will be featured on two ATR72-600s ordered by Malaysian airline Berjaya Air to transport passengers to its numerous luxury hotels and resorts from mid-2025.
The latest designs, unveiled at Aircraft Interiors Expo 2024, taking place in Hamburg from May 28 to May 30, 2024, come one year after ATR announced the launch of its first HighLine Collection. Due to launch in 2023, ATR's HighLine Collection will feature five unique interior concepts for the ATR72, ranging from VIP transport to all-business class and traditional multi-class configurations.
Featuring a unique 1-1 layout throughout the cabin, the all-Business Class interior features spacious individual business seats with direct window and aisle access, offering “exceptional personal space and privacy,” according to the airline.
“The new TaylorMade seat (named “ETEREA”) is [boutique aircraft interiors designer] “Geven offers ample legroom, recline and a generous 21.6 inches of width,” the company said in a statement accompanying the unveiling of its latest design.
“Each seat features a personal side console that serves as both a table and storage space, an amenity made possible by the ATR's wider cross-section, providing a level of comfort and convenience not available on narrower regional jets currently in operation,” the statement continued.
“The ETEREA Business seat was designed by Geven specifically for ATR,” said Zuzana Hrnkova, vice president of marketing at ATR. “It fits onto ATR's standard seat rails, allowing for easy customization and modification of aircraft. Passengers will experience a truly premium journey from takeoff to landing, taking regional aviation to new heights.”
“This new luxury shuttle configuration will elevate our guests' experience and redefine corporate and semi-private travel without compromising sustainability. The ATR Highline Cabin Collection is designed to offer unparalleled comfort, luxury and convenience while benefiting from the superior fuel efficiency of turboprop technology,” added Hrnkova.
The all-Business Class cabin offers airlines and passengers a variety of options, including an “Executive Ceiling” that eliminates overhead bins, USB A+C charging ports, in-flight entertainment, high-speed internet access and high-quality material finishes.
Berjaya Air, the launch customer for ATR HighLine, will take delivery of two customised ATR 72-600s during 2025. The modifications to Berjaya Air's aircraft will be carried out through a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC).
“The principle is that ATR will deliver green aircraft – aircraft without seats – and then send the aircraft to a France-based MRO which will install the cabin and deliver it to Berjaya,” Louis Barral, ATR's premium market business development manager, told FlightGlobal in an interview.
“We expect to finalize the design by the end of this year. The green aircraft will be delivered in mid-2025, followed by the STC and then the aircraft will be flying in late 2025. We are on schedule and have seen a lot of progress from concept to advanced design, which is very promising for the remainder of the project,” he added.
“This will be the first ATR aircraft to carry the Hyline brand and we believe this aircraft will change the way people fly regionally across a range of market profiles, not just commercial airlines but a wider range of operators as well,” Barral concluded.
