Fly Green

ATR 72-500 is dubbed “the world’s greenest aircraft”

RED 1’s new ATR 72-500 offers several factors combined 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.

In these days of carbon footprint consciousness, RED 1’s decision to launch service with our fleet of 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 & responsible aircraft. Our 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.

RED 1 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 recognized 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 RED 1 sector.

On a 370km sector, the ATR 72 - 500 fuel consumption per passenger is up to 15% lower than a typical Nigerian car. The associated ATR gaseous emissions per passenger in terms of CO2 are 15 times less than a car and comparable to a train.

  • FACT: Did you know that an ATR 72-500 uses as much fuel on a typical 370km sector (From our base in Abuja to Benin, Enugu or Kano) as a Boeing 747 uses in ten minutes of taxiing?
  • FACT: A turboprop such as RED 1’s ATR-72-500 emits 20% less CO2 per passenger-km than newer jets.
  • FACT: On a 370km sector the fuel consumption per passenger of an ATR 72-500 is up to 30% lower than that of a typical Nigerian car, 15% 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 72-500 is 16 litres, for a car 18 litres and 27 litres for a jet with 120 passengers.
  • FACT: The ATR produces 3 times less Nox (Nitrous Oxides) than a car and 40% less than a train.
  • FACT: An ATR 72-500 uses up to 70% less fuel than a jet on a standard RED 1 flight sector
  • FACT: Low levels of engine emissions are driven by low fuel consumption.


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 a 72 seat ATR on a typical sector with a full passenger load