Mandarin Airlines completes SAF-powered ATR 72-600 delivery flight

Mandarin Airlines in Taiwan has reached a key milestone in its partnership with ATR by completing a ferry flight of its newly delivered ATR 72-600 using a 30% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) blend on the first leg from Toulouse to Taipei. The aircraft will join its existing fleet of 11 ATR aircraft, mainly operating from Taipei Songshan Airport to enhance regional connectivity. This move also highlights the airline’s growing commitment to more sustainable operations.

The flight is part of ATR’s broader efforts to reduce emissions in regional aviation. The ATR 72-600, equipped with PW127XT engines, is already highly fuel-efficient and certified to operate with up to 50% SAF. ATR is further accelerating SAF adoption by working closely with airlines, lessors, and fuel partners worldwide.

ATR has also collaborated with Braathens Regional Airlines (BRA) and Neste to advance 100% SAF capability. In 2022, they achieved a world-first flight using 100% SAF in both engines of an ATR 72-600, demonstrating up to 80% lifecycle CO₂ emissions reduction. Meanwhile, regional airlines are increasingly adopting SAF. NAC began using SAF blends in 2023, and Hokkaido Air System (HAC) pioneered SAF use in Asia in 2021 with an ATR 42-600 ferry flight.