Aircraft / Aria T72 Transonic
A JStream Exclusive Original Concept Aircraft
The Aria T72 Transonic is a narrow-body, short to medium range twin-engine jet airliner produced by Aria Aircraft Company, a commercial aircraft manufacturer headquartered in Denver, Colorado USA, and Dublin, Ireland.
The Aria T72 is a stretched-fuselage derivative of the Aria T42 Transonic. Given the internal project name of Goldilocks, the T72 was launched in 2017 as a response to customer demand for an airliner that could carry more than the baseline T42’s 42 passenger capacity, but less than the 102-seat Aria T102 Transonic, which had been launched in 2016.
The Aria T72 entered revenue service in November 2024. Sold either as a passenger airliner or in business jet configuration known as the Aria T72b Transonic Bizjet, it has seen a healthy demand for orders. The T72 frequently serves as a regional commuter airliner or as an option for service on thin midrange routes. The T72b Bizjet variant, which competes in the large long range business jet market segment, has also seen a respectable amount of orders.
An aftermarket P2F (passenger to freighter) conversion program, to be based at Wichita, Kansas USA, is reportedly under consideration.
Aria T72xr Transonic XR
A special extended range variant, the Aria T72xr Transonic XR, which features two improved Sonata Type 15BXR engines, recently became available. The T72xr carries additional center fuel tanks that add 450 nm range to the aircraft, while reducing cargo capacity by about 25%. The T72xr’s engines feature serrated rear engine cowlings, which contribute to greater fuel efficiency while also reducing engine noise. Following certification delays, the T72xr was belatedly introduced into revenue service in early 2025, a few months after the Aria T72 baseline model debuted.
Although the engine upgrade costs about $2 million more than the baseline T72 model, the Aria T72xr has emerged as a popular choice for airlines wanting to profitably operate on longer but thinner routes. A special conversion program has been set up at Aria’s Montreal-YMX facility to upgrade any base Aria T72 into an Aria T72xr.
Approval for the Aria T72xrb Transonic Bizjet, a business jet version of the Aria T72xr that offers an extended range out to about 8,100 nm (15,000 km; 9320 mi), is still pending approvals.
Aria T42h Transonic Hybrid
An experimental variant of the Aria T42xr Transonic XR, known as the Aria T72h Transonic Hybrid, is currently undergoing evaluation. One of a set of experimental hybrid aircraft being developed by Aria Aircraft, the Aria T42h is a hydrogen fuel cell-flexfuel hybrid that can operate on either standard Jet-A aviation fuel or 50% to 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The Aria T42h prototype saw its first flight in February 2025, and testing of the concept continues apace.
Reference: none - fictional.
Stats
Stats displayed are for the Aria T72 Transonic twinjet aircraft.
Name: Aria T72 Transonic
Final Assembly Lines: Greensboro-GSO, North Carolina USA; Montreal-YMX, Quebec Canada; Seville-SVQ, Spain
Role: Twin Engine Medium Range Jet Airliner
First Introduction:
Aria T72 Transonic (Base Model): 14 November 2024
Aria T72xr Transonic XR (Extended Range): 09 January 2025
Status: In Production; In Service
Cockpit Crew: Two
Seating:
Airliner Standard: 72 - 8 Business - 64 Premium Economy
Airliner Alternative: 54 - 18 Business - 36 Premium Economy
Airliner All Economy: 80 Premium Economy
Airliner All Business: 40 Business
Bizjet Standard: 20 Business
Engines: 2 x Sonata Type 15B (T72) or Sonata Type 15BXR (T72xr)
Cruise Speed:
Transonic: Mach 0.935 (623 knots; 1155 km/h; 717 mph)
Supersonic (up to 75 minutes): Mach 1.06 (706 knots; 1309 km/h; 813 mph)
Range:
Aria T72 Transonic (Base Model): 3000 nmi (5556 km; 3452 mi)
Aria T72xr Transonic XR (Extended Range): 3450 nmi (6389 km; 3970 mi)
Aria T72b Transonic Bizjet: 7,500 nmi (13,900 km; 8637 mi)