Photo: ATR, Simple Flying

The USA is not turboprop country. About one in every 81 domestic flights is by them, reduced to one in every 417 when ATRs – exclusively used in the country by Silver Airways – are considered. Despite this, Silver Airways' latest expansion means the USA has a new longest non-stop scheduled ATR route.

Silver Airways: Tampa-Greensboro

The ATR 42 and ATR 72 are famed for low operating costs and relatively low speeds. They are best deployed on routes where speed and the resulting higher fuel burn are less important. According to the latest Cirium data, the average ATR sector length in the US this year is 270 miles (435 km), within the normal territory for the type. As always, there are exceptions.

Beginning on September 4th, Silver Airways will introduce Tampa to Greensboro, one of a few recent additions. Covering 580 miles (934 km), it becomes the USA's new longest scheduled ATR route. That it will only operate on Saturdays is not important for this purpose. It was last served in 2019 by Spirit and its A320s.

Using the 46-seat ATR 42-600, the schedule is below. Notice the huge block time of 2h 40m in both directions, which includes taxi time, flight time, and some time for short delays:

• Tampa to Greensboro: 3M044, 16:20-19:00 (2h 40m block)
• Greensboro to Tampa: 3M045, 19:40-22:20 (2h 40m)

It is the USA's longest ATR route

Examining Cirium schedules information for the past 20 years shows that no other non-stop scheduled ATR route has exceeded the distance or block time of Tampa-Greensboro. As for 2023, here are the top 10 from September onwards, obviously all operated by Silver Airways:

Orlando to Greensboro

Notice Orlando-Greensboro, beginning on July 25th. The aircraft will continue to Nashville, with Orlando-Nashville bookable. This covers 911 miles (1,467 km) but is omitted as it is not non-stop.