Air Corsica has temporarily taken three ATR 72 aircraft out of service and is covering the resulting schedule gap with substitute aircraft, including an Airbus A350, to keep operations running across Corsica and mainland France. The unusual charter mix also includes an Airbus A319 from Amelia and an ATR 72 from Chalair, supporting more than 100 replacement flights through the end of October.
The disruption is tied to technical events that may involve the air-conditioning systems on the ATR fleet. Air Corsica is working with ATR and equipment and engine partners to establish the root cause, while the exact number of affected aircraft has not been disclosed.
The deployment of Air Caraïbes’ A350 is the most striking element of the recovery plan, given that the widebody is being used on regional replacement duties rather than long-haul services. The aircraft will help provide additional seats on high-demand routes while the airline keeps its public service obligations and core network largely intact.
Air Corsica’s response reflects the limited spare capacity available when several turboprops are grounded at once. By combining wet-leased aircraft with its own Airbus fleet, the carrier is aiming to preserve as much of its timetable as possible while inspections continue on the ATR 72s.