ATR has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) for up to 36 aircraft with Feel Air Holdings at the Farnborough Air Show. Feel Air is a new Japanese regional airline holding company created with the purpose of revitalizing Japan’s regions. Feel Air will use its unique franchise business structure to gradually establish a family of regional airlines that will cover different areas within Japan.

The LOI confirms Feel Air’s commitment to the exclusive use of ATR aircraft for its domestic operations, with a fleet that will consist of both ATR 42-600 and ATR 72-600 aircraft, as well as the short take-off and landing variant, the ATR 42-600S, for easier access to smaller regional airports.

There are currently 15 ATR aircraft flying across Japan with three operators. Two more operators will start operations as well in the coming months. In total, ATR sees a potential for 100 ATR aircraft operating in Japan in the medium term.