The ATR 72 was developed from the ATR 42 by stretching the fuselage by 4.5 m (14 ft 9 in), increasing the wingspan, adding more powerful engines, and increasing fuel capacity by approximately 10 percent. The 72 was announced in 1986, and made its maiden flight on October 27, 1988. Exactly one year after that, on October 27, 1989, Finnair became the first company to put the plane into service.