ATR 72 Market Value Report 2026
The ATR 72 is the workhorse of regional aviation, and its used market is busier than it has been in years. ATR recorded more than 90 second-hand transactions in 2025, while new-aircraft deliveries stayed constrained by supply-chain problems.
That creates opportunity, but also risk. Two aircraft of the same type and year can differ in value by millions of dollars once engines, checks and records are taken into account. This guide sets out what the public data does, and does not, tell you about the used ATR 72-600 (2012-2019 builds) and the older ATR 72-500 (2000-2008 builds), and what to verify before you commit.
The ATR 72 market in numbers
ATR's 2025 results show strong orders and an active used market, with output held back by supply-chain constraints.
Source: ATR full-year 2025 results, 18 February 2026.
Looking further out, ATR forecasts demand for about 2,100 new passenger turboprops and 500 freighters over the next 20 years, with six in ten new turboprops replacing older aircraft.
India is part of the story
In September 2026, Goa-based FLY91 signed a firm order for 40 ATR 72-600s valued at around US$1 billion, with deliveries planned from late 2027 to 2032. The figure was reported at list prices, and FLY91 said it negotiated an undisclosed discount, so it is not a guide to the price per aircraft.
For used buyers, the message is simple: limited new production and strong airline demand support used values, but they do not set the price of any individual aircraft.
ATR 72-600 vs ATR 72-500 at a glance
The -600 is the current production series and the better-documented asset for valuation. The -500 offers a lower entry price but carries more maintenance risk at its age. For the type’s background and safety record, see our ATR 72 guide.
For a -500, start with a credible cost-to-operate or cost-to-return-to-service case. Only then decide whether passenger service or cargo conversion is the better use.
| ATR 72-600 (2012-2019) | ATR 72-500 (2000-2008) | |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Current production series | Out of production |
| Age in 2026 | About 7-14 years | About 18-26 years |
| Value evidence | Published lessor references and disclosed sales | Too few disclosed sales for a reliable range |
| Main appeal | Glass cockpit, active support, strong operator base | Lower acquisition cost |
| Main watch-out | Engine life, upcoming checks, lease position | Heavy checks, engine and propeller life, corrosion, records |
What is a used ATR 72-600 worth?
Sellers are asking more than older published benchmarks suggest. Two current ATR 72-600 offers put asking prices at US$12-15 million, compared with a 2025 lessor reference of about US$10 million for a 10-year-old aircraft.
Current asking prices (October 2026)
| Aircraft | Year of build | Asking price | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|---|
| ATR 72-600, example A | 2015 | US$15.0m | Seller expectation for a mid-life -600; comparable only after technical status, configuration and delivery terms are checked. |
| ATR 72-600, example B | 2012 | US$12.0m | Three years older and US$3m lower. The gap cannot be put down to age alone without comparable records. |
Source: market indications supplied to Safe Fly Aviation, October 2026. Asking prices, not completed sales or appraisals; availability and condition not independently verified.
The 2015 example is priced 25% above the 2012 one, and 50% above the US$10 million published reference. That does not by itself mean the asking price is too high: the benchmark assumes half-life condition and basic configuration, and the marketed aircraft may differ. What it does mean is that buyers should not budget for a 2014-2015 ATR 72-600 at US$10 million and expect sellers to agree.
Published valuation references
These older references differ in age, date and deal type, so they should not be blended into one price range.
| Reference | Aircraft / basis | Figure |
|---|---|---|
| Lessor market-value reference, 2025 | 10-year-old ATR 72-600; half-life condition, basic configuration, lease-free (approximate, read from a chart) | ≈ US$10m |
| Disclosed sale, March 2024 | 11-year-old ATR 72-600; full terms not public | ≈ US$8m |
| Disclosed sale, March 2024 | Two 6-year-old ATR 72-600s, combined | US$27.5m (pair) |
| Market value, December 2024 | New ATR 72-600 (Cirium, cited by Avation) | ≈ US$23m |
Sources: Avation PLC corporate presentations (January and May 2025). Avation shows the 2025 lessor reference as a chart, not a stated figure, so treat it as approximate.
Treat both the asking prices and the references as starting points, not quotes. Negotiate against the specific aircraft's technical status and cost to deliver: fresher engines or a recently completed heavy check support a higher price; near-term engine, propeller or landing gear events justify a lower one.
Engines matter
New ATR 72-600s now come with the PW127XT engine, which Pratt & Whitney Canada says offers 40% longer time on wing and 20% lower maintenance costs than the earlier PW127M, plus a 3% improvement in fuel efficiency. Most 2012-2019 aircraft were delivered with PW127M engines, so check exactly what is installed rather than assuming the newer figures apply.
Why the ATR 72-500 is harder to price
Public listings for 2000-2008 aircraft rarely show prices, and advertised figures above 40,000 flight hours and cycles are common. At that age, the cost of the next heavy check or engine shop visit can outweigh any saving on the purchase price.
Listings also need careful reading. The same aircraft can appear through several intermediaries with slightly different figures, which can make supply look larger than it is.
Leasing and the "cash discount" question
There is no single market lease rate for a used ATR 72. Monthly rent depends on the aircraft's age, remaining engine and component life, lease length, maintenance-reserve terms, delivery condition and the lessee's credit. Broad published ranges are fine for early screening, but they belong in a financing model only once a lessor confirms a package in writing for a specific serial number.
Buyers often ask whether paying cash earns a fixed discount of 5%, 10% or more. We have found no credible evidence of a standard figure. Cash can shorten closing and remove financing risk, which helps in negotiation, but price still depends on seller motivation, competing buyers, condition and any existing lease.
Freighter conversion: a new option for the ATR 72-600
On 4 March 2026, IPR Conversions announced EASA approval of its supplemental type certificate for the first large-cargo-door passenger-to-freighter conversion of the ATR 72-600. Large-cargo-door conversions were previously offered for older ATR 72 models, while the only -600 freighters with a large cargo door were new-build ATR 72-600Fs for FedEx. ATR has delivered more -600s than -500s, so the newer type offers a larger pool of candidate aircraft.
A conversion option is not a guaranteed value floor. Before paying for that potential, confirm:
- The aircraft's eligibility and structural condition
- Remaining airframe life after conversion
- Firm conversion cost, slot and downtime
- The cargo economics of the intended operator
Before you make an offer: a buyer's checklist
An online advert does not mean an aircraft is still available, uncommitted or airworthy. Ask for these before you put a number on the table:
- Identity and authority: MSN, registration, current location, and written confirmation that the seller is authorised to sell.
- Dated technical status: airframe, engine and propeller hours and cycles, engine serial numbers, life-limited parts and the maintenance forecast.
- Records: complete technical records, damage and repair history, airworthiness directive compliance, landing gear and structural inspections.
- Title and lease position: ownership, liens, on- or off-lease status, reserves, deposits and redelivery obligations.
- Commercial terms: seller-authorised price, offer validity, delivery condition and delivery location.
- Independent checks: an aircraft-specific appraisal and a physical technical inspection before signing.
Price each item separately: maintenance due, engine and propeller exposure, records gaps, ferry costs, taxes and import steps. That is a far stronger basis for negotiation than a generic discount.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a used ATR 72-600 cost?
Current asking prices seen by Safe Fly in October 2026 range from about US$12 million for a 2012 build to US$15 million for a 2015 build. A 2025 lessor reference put a 10-year-old aircraft in standard half-life condition at about US$10 million. Final prices depend on engine life, upcoming checks, records and lease status.
Is an ATR 72-500 a good buy in 2026?
It can be, if the lower purchase price is backed by a sound maintenance and operating case. For 18-26-year-old aircraft, heavy checks, engine work and records quality often matter more than the price.
Can an ATR 72-600 be converted to a freighter?
Yes. EASA approved the first large-cargo-door passenger-to-freighter conversion for the ATR 72-600 in March 2026. Each aircraft still needs an eligibility and cost check.
Is there a standard discount for paying cash?
No. Cash can strengthen your negotiating position, but there is no fixed market discount.
What are typical ATR 72 lease rates?
Rates depend on age, technical condition, lease length and maintenance-reserve terms. Use published ranges for screening only, and get a written lessor proposal for the specific aircraft before modelling.
Buying or leasing an ATR 72?
Safe Fly Aviation helps airlines, operators and investors source, evaluate and negotiate ATR 72 sale and lease transactions. We verify availability, coordinate technical reviews and appraisals, and structure the deal.
Talk to our team info@safefly.aeroSources
- ATR: 2025 full-year results (18 February 2026)
- ATR: 2025 Paris Air Show and turboprop market forecast (18 June 2025)
- ATR: replacement share of new turboprop demand (June 2025)
- Outlook Business: FLY91 order for 40 ATR 72-600s (3 September 2026)
- Leeham News: FLY91 order valued at about US$1 billion at list prices (9 September 2026)
- Avation PLC: corporate update (January 2025)
- Avation PLC: corporate update, including March 2024 ATR 72-600 sales (May 2025)
- Cargo Facts: EASA certifies ATR 72-600F LCD conversion (4 March 2026)
- IPR Conversions: EASA approval of the first ATR 72-600 large-cargo-door STC (4 March 2026)
- Cargo Facts: FedEx starts own ATR 72-600F conversions (February 2026)
- Pratt & Whitney Canada: PW127XT engine series (November 2021)
This article is for general information only and is not an appraisal, technical acceptance, or legal or financial advice. Figures are indicative and based on public sources as of October 2026. Always obtain aircraft-specific records, written terms and an independent appraisal before any commitment. Images are illustrative and do not depict any aircraft offered for sale or lease.
