Aer Arann showcases ‘Green’ aircraft as part of fleet overhaul

Rapidly expanding regional airline Aer Arann is celebrating the launch of its uniquely designed aircraft – the ATR 72-500. The introduction of the ATR 72-500 at London Luton Airport on Wednesday 4 July marks the beginning of the Aer Arann’s fleet upgrade. The ATR 72-500 is one of 10 ordered.

The carrier, which is the fastest growing between the UK, Ireland and France, continues to deploy turboprops rather than jet engines because of their environmentally-friendly make-up.

Colin Lewis, Aer Arann’s Head of Sales and Marketing explains “In addition to lower carbon monoxide emissions, which are driven by low fuel consumption, the turboprop aircraft fly lower leaving the ozone layer and upper atmosphere unharmed. The planes are also quieter and therefore help decrease noise pollution.”

Colin Lewis, goes on “Aer Arann’s turboprop engines emit 15 times less carbon monoxide than a car and emissions are comparable to those of a train. Significantly, they produce three times less nitrous oxide than a car and 40% less than a train.”

Lewis adds: “On a 370km sector the fuel consumption per passenger of an Aer Arann plane is up to 15% lower than that of a typical European car. Amazingly, an Aer Arann plane uses as much fuel on a typical 370km sector as a Boeing 747 uses in just taxiing.”

Other Aer Arann ‘green’ facts:

- A turboprop such as an Aer Arann ATR-72-500 emits 20% less CO2 per passenger-km than newer jets

- Fuel consumption per passenger for a journey of 370km for the ATR 72 is 16 litres compared with 18 litres for a car and 27 litres for a jet with 120 passengers.
An ATR 72 uses up to 70% less fuel than a jet on a standard Aer Arann flight sector.

- New statistics from the Official Airline Guide support Aer Arann’s findings that regional aircraft have significantly less impact on the environment than any other type of airline. Regional airlines, that is, passenger airline services, which provide services to smaller communities, account for just 8% of nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide attributed to airline emissions and 12% of carbon dioxide, (OAG).