Aero International (Regional)

Aero International (Regional) or AI(R) was a short-lived multi-national consortium intended to merge the businesses of the French-Italian Avions de Transport Regional (ATR) and British Aerospace Regional Aircraft (BAe) (which comprised Avro International Aerospace and Jetstream Aircraft).[1][2][3]

AI(R) was launched in 1996 to perform marketing, sales, support and aircraft development of the partners' transport aircraft and to oversee future programs.[4]

In its first year of operation, AI(R) earned USD1.3b on sales of 38 turboprops and 21 regional jets.[5]

AI(R)'s product range included the British Aerospace Jetstream 31 and 41, but BAe announced it would cease production in May 1997.[6] The proposed Jetstream 61, an improved British Aerospace ATP, was cancelled because it overlapped with the already established ATR 72.

AI(R)'s AIRJET project studied a new 70-seat regional jet for two years developed from the ATR-42,[7] before deciding not to proceed in December 1997, after BAe decided it would not make a major investment in the project.[8][9]

In 1997 another plan to build a 100-seat jet with Asian partner companies was transferred to Airbus Industrie.[10]

The organization disbanded in July 1998, with ATR and British Aerospace regaining full independence.[11][12][13]

References
  1. Aero International (Regional)
  2. International Directory of Company Histories, vol. 24, St James Press, p. 88
  3. Domenico Ferreri (2003), "Characteristics of the Civil Aeronautical Industry", Marketing and management in the high-technology sector, Greenwood Publishing Group, p. 139, ISBN 978-1-56700-524-0
  4. Ross Tieman, Industrial Correspondent (1995-06-07), "BAe joins regional aircraft venture.", Times [London, England]
  5. Charles Goldsmith (1997-02-06), "AIR Says Revenue Totaled $1.3 Billion in Initial Year", The Wall Street Journal
  6. "British Aerospace Jetstream 41".
  7. Richard Payne (2004). Stuck on the ground: Unbuilt British Commercial Aircraft Since 1945. Tempus. p. 178. ISBN 978-0-7524-3172-7.
  8. Charles Goldsmith (1997-12-11), "European Consortium Decides Not to Build Regional Jetliner", The Wall Street Journal
  9. Peder A Andersen (1998-11-01). "The Changing Structure of the Global Large Civil Aircraft Industry and Market: Implications for the Competitiveness of the U.S. Industry". p. 3-25. SSRN 1452731.
  10. "AIR plane still on course", The Independent, March 1998
  11. Avro RJ85 / BAe 146
  12. "Split-up of the Aero International (Regional) consortium appears inevitable". Aviation Week. Informa PLC. Retrieved 2022-09-21.
  13. J Paul Hodgson (31 March 2021). Britain's Glorious Aircraft Industry: 100 Years of Success, Setback and Change. Air World. ISBN 978-1-5267-7467-5.
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