The first of Aer Arann’s $180 million investment in a new fleet of ATR aircraft will land at Cork Airport on Thursday morning next. The new ATR 72-500 offers Aer Arann customers new levels of comfort and efficiency. More importantly, several factors combine to make the new ATR aircraft an environmentally friendly aircraft: lower emissions of CO2 due to reduced fuel burn, 70% lower fuel consumption than a jet on similar routes and sets new standards in the industry for quietness.

Garry Cullen, Managing Director, Aer Arann said “In these days of carbon footprint consciousness, Aer Arann's decision to update and renew our fleet with ATR's new generation 72-500 aircraft represents the optimal choice to give our customer the highest standards of on-board comfort, as well as the most environmentally sound. Our new fleet has a quiet, comfortable and spacious cabin with noise levels similar to jets, but is also the optimum choice for a friendly environment, even when compared with other forms of transport such as cars, buses or trains”.

FACT: Did you know that an ATR 72 uses as much fuel on a typical 370 km sector as Boeing 747 uses in ten minutes of taxiing?
FACT:  A turboprop such as an Aer Arann ATR-72-500 emits 20% less CO2 per passenger-km than newer jets.
FACT:  On a 370 km sector the fuel consumption per passenger of an ATR 72-500 is up to 15% lower than that of a typical European car.
FACT:  The ATR gaseous emissions in terms of CO (carbon monoxide) are 15 times lower than those of a car and are comparable to those of a train.
FACT:  Fuel consumption per passenger for a journey of 370 km for an ATR 72 is 16 litres, for a car 18 litres and 27 litres for a jet with 120 pax.
FACT:  The ATR produces 3 times less Nox (Nitrous Oxides) than a car and 40% less than a train.
FACT:  An ATR 72 uses up to 70% less fuel than a jet on a standard Aer Arann flight sector
FACT:  Low levels of engine emissions are driven by low fuel consumption.

Garry Cullen, Managing Director stated “Aer Arann is committed to the principles of energy efficiency. Whilst the contribution of the aviation industry towards global warming is significantly less than other large polluters, our new ATR aircraft are recognised as the most fuel efficient aircraft in their category, emitting 20% less CO2 per passenger-km than newer jets. The ATR operates more efficiently than jet aircraft on short-haul routes – up to 70% less fuel is required than a 737 on a typical Aer Arann sector. On a 370 km sector, the ATR 72 – 500 fuel consumption per passenger is up to 15% lower than a typical European car. The associated ATR gaseous emissions per pax in terms of CO are 15 times less than a car and comparable to a train”

“External noise and gaseous emissions regulatory levels are all met too with ample margin.” Cullen continued “In fact we are quiet neighbours and by flying at a relatively low altitude, we also leave the ozone layer unaffected. On a global level, ATR and its partners are heavily involved in a joint technology initiative for an aeronautics and air transport framework called ‘The Clean Sky Project’ which aims to conceive and validate technologies for a future generation ‘green regional’ aircraft”.

Turboprops v Turbojets

FACT:  A turboprop engine is a jet engine attached to a propeller - the turbine at the back is turned by the hot gases, and this turns a shaft that drives the propeller.
FACT:  Turboprops perform 25% of all intra-European flights
FACT:  A 50 seater regional jet requires about 40% longer runway than ATR on a typical sector with a full passenger load

Cullen finished by stating that “Aer Arann are delighted and proud to launch the first of our ten new ATR today”
ATR turboprops - Good neighbours for the environment
 
 
Aer Arann: New Arrival, New Aircraft, New Look
To celebrate the arrival of the new Aer Arann ATR 72-500 aircraft, a special one off colour scheme was commissioned by Aer Arann. Inspired by Celtic rings, or triskels, from the ancient monuments at Newgrange in County Meath. Clusters of triskels signify pulses to communicate the human and personal touch. The colour scheme incorporates refreshed and updated corporate colours. Silver and gold have been added into the palette to bring in a celebratory theme giving the aircraft a really distinctive look.

Garry Cullen , Managing Director, Aer Arann said: “Our new ATR 72-500 aircraft is a symbol of how far we have come as an organisation. The new one-off design reflects both who we are and where we are going, by reinterpreting the traditional patterns and given them a modern and playful twist”.

Cullen , continues: “To satisfy our most demanding customer expectations, our new fleet has a comfortable and spacious cabin where silence and comfort are similar to jets. Even if it’s just a short trip, Aer Arann knows that customers have come to expect the same level of space and seating comfort they would receive in a larger aircraft. Not only has the new aircraft been restyled with lea ther seating, there’s more leg-room, larger overhead bins, more windows than rows of seats and wider aisles. We already have a reputation for great customer service – in fact – 95% of our customers tells us that they would recommend us to someone else. Our new fleet will enhance our customer’s view of Aer Arann”.
 
 
Aer Arann: new aircraft, new routes, new era
ATR 72-500 aircraft

The ATR 72 500 fuel consumption per passenger is up to 15% lower than a typical European car on a 200 mile sector. Gaseous emissions per passenger on the turboprop in terms of carbon monoxide are 15 times less than a car. Nitrous oxides emitted by the aircraft per passenger is 40% less than that of a train. To put it in local context, the new ATR 72 500 will use less fuel on the Dublin to Cork route than a jet aircraft will use taxiing for take-off.

On a global level, ATR and its partners are heavily involved in a joint technology initiative for an aeronautics and air transport framework called ‘The Clean Sky Project’ which aims to conceive and validate technologies for a future generation ‘green regional’ aircraft. This is in addition to ATR, and subsequently Aer Arann, being part of the larger objective of supporting the implementation of the Kyoto Protocols in Europe by reducing all emissions by 8% by 2010. (It’s worth noting that global aviation contributes 2.5% to global emissions).

However, bearing all that in mind, the eco-conscious passenger is also a seeker of comfort. Even if it’s just a short trip, passengers have come to expect the same level of space and seating comfort they would receive in a jet aircraft. Not only has the new aircraft been restyled with leather seating, there’s more leg-room, larger overhead bins, more windows than rows of seats and wider aisles, all contributing to what promises to be a more pleasurable in-flight experience.

New Design
To coincide with the arrival of the new aircraft, a special one off colour scheme was commissioned. Inspired by Celtic rings, or triskels, from the ancient monuments at Newgrange in County Meath, DesignCorp have reinterpreted the traditional patterns and given them a modern and playful twist. Clusters of triskels signify pulses to communicate the human and personal touch. The colour scheme incorporates refreshed and updated corporate colours. Silver and gold have been added into the palette to bring in a celebratory theme giving the aircraft a really distinctive look

Developments
Before the end of June this year, Aer Arann will also have launched 6 additional routes between Ireland, UK and France, moved to a new Headquarters in Dublin and opened a new hangar in Galway Airport, the birthplace of the airline.. Aer Arann are committed to continuing what they regard as essential flight experience advantages, such as later check-in times, no extra baggage charges and free newspapers.

The company’s excellence in customer service was recognised in 2006 by receiving the Palme D’Or European regional airline award for sustained excellence, reinforcing the airline’s belief that providing a progressive airline service doesn’t have to compromise the human touch.Midsummer Festival can be found at www.corkfestival.com <http://www.corkfestival.com> 
 
-ENDS-

Kevin Cullinane
Marketing Manager
CORK AIRPORT
AERFORT CHORCAI
Ireland
Telephone: +353 21 4329611
www.corkairport.com