Some of the nicest seats flying in the USA may soon be on some of the smallest planes. JSX announced plans to acquire a pair of ATS42-600 turboprops to expand its fleet at the 2025 Paris Air Show.
And, much like with the company’s ERJ fleet, the interiors will be fitted for a premium passenger experience.
When paired with our award-winning JSX hospitality, the addition of the ATR marks an innovative step forward in our company’s unyielding mission to increase the safety, speed, and convenience of air travel that moves our country forward. – Alex Wilcox, JSX Chief Executive Officer
With an interior based on the ATR HighLine cabin concept, JSX offer increased personal space and comfort on board. HighLine presents a trio of seating choices for a 1-1 layout inside the aircraft. Two of the designs can also be configured in a 1-2 layout, if needed, to increase cabin capacity. And based on the announced plans that might happen with JSX.
The first two aircraft will be leased, allowing the carrier to quickly bring them into service. JSX anticipates starting operations before the end of 2025. JSX plans to configure them with “30 premium seats, offering business class legroom.” The planes will also see Starlink inflight internet installed (EASA certification is complete; adapting to FAA should be straightforward), similar to the existing ERJ fleet.
Three ATR Premium Seating Options for JSX
ATR offers an X-Space seat similar to what JSX flies today. Essentially the second seat in the pair is converted to a side table and snack area. This is also similar to what Bermudair initially promised for its E-Jet fleet, though that has yet to take flight.
A second option is the Business “Privilege” seat, which is a more traditional recliner design.
Finally, ATR worked with seating provider Geven to offer the Business “ETEREA” seat on board. This design combines the best features of the other two, delivering a wider seat with significant storage and other passenger amenities.
Which HighLine Seat Will JSX Choose?
JSX did not specify which of the three seats would fly on its first two aircraft, nor did it respond to a query about that (and other bits). It did, however, offer a couple clues.
Notably, the announcement also includes a Letter of Intent to purchase 15 more ATR –600s, plus options on another 10. Those aircraft could be delivered as either the ATR 42 or the ATR 72 model. Either would fly with just 30 seats on board – necessary to fit within the company’s regulatory profile, operating from smaller airports and without full TSA screening. New ATR 42-600s would be fitted with “30 premium seats” while the ATR 72-600s are tipped to fly with 30 “All-Business Class” seats.
This (plus the carrier’s success with the side table layout) implies the ATR 42s would have the X-Space seat on board. But that is not a certainty, as the cabin does not appear large enough to fit 30 of those inside. Theoretical layouts published by ATR suggest a maximum of 19 seats in that cabin, pitched at 34″, or a similar number of Eterea seats pitched at 35-36″.
A mixed cabin layout could get to 30 seats, but the carrier is teasing the offering as all 30 being premium. Getting to 30 seats all the same size would likely be accomplished with the Privilege option in a 1-2 layout. Hopefully further details on that are soon forthcoming.
Getting to 30 premium seats in the ATR 72 is not an issue. ATR shows options in that layout with the 34-35″ pitch that suits its premium offering.
A Growing Market
The ATR will augment JSX’s existing ERJ fleet, not replace it. JSX expects the new planes to open access to approximately 1,000 additional airports that it cannot serve with its jet fleet today. It also expects that passengers will not book away from flying on a turboprop, assuming the amenities, prices, and routes all hit their targets.
Separately, Air Tahiti announced a similar deal at the show, with one of its four pending ATR 72-600 deliveries confirmed to fly the ETEREA seats. Air Tahiti will fit its aircraft with 26 of the seats, pitched at 39″, for increased comfort as it works to meet the growing premium leisure demand, especially for markets like Bora Bora. That version will fly from the back half of 2026.
Malaysia’s Berjaya Air also has ordered the all business class cabin.
More news from the 2025 Paris Air Show
- Eve Projects Three Billion eVTOL Riders Over 20 Years
- Safran, Greenerwave Team for Metasurfaces ESA Development
- "THE Room FX" Brings Business Class Update to ANA’s 787s
- Qatar Airways Pivots to PAC’s Converix, Astrova for 777X Digital Experience
- JSX Pitches Premium Turboprop Play
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It’s possible that the -42s could be in a 1-2, 30-seat X-Space layout with the side table on one side of the aircraft and two seats on the other side. Having the side table on just one side would be very similar to what they do with their ERJ-145 fleet now. The ATR HighLine brochure on its website indicates that 1-1 and 1-2 seating are both available in X-Space. But the Privilege seats do have the advantage of a little extra width. Very interested to see whether the -42 or -72 wins out in the long run or whether they take a mix.