Indian regional carrier FLY91 and turboprop manufacturer ATR announced a firm order for 40 ATR 72-600 aircraft on September 3, 2026. The agreement is valued at approximately $1 billion, with aircraft deliveries scheduled to take place between 2027 and 2032 to support the airline's network expansion.
The agreement represents the largest firm order for ATR in nearly a decade, as well as the largest single order ever placed by a regional airline. The transaction brings ATR's total order intake for 2026 to 54 aircraft, surpassing its total net orders recorded throughout the full year of 2025.
FLY91 plans to expand its operational fleet from six aircraft to 60 over the next five years. Founder, Managing Director, and CEO Manoj Chacko stated that the ATR 72-600 offers the ideal operating economics for the carrier's network, serving as a catalyst for its next growth phase in linking emerging cities directly.
India's Union Minister for Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu highlighted that regional connectivity remains a fundamental pillar of the country's aviation strategy. He added that large-scale fleet commitments align with the government's UDAN 2.0 scheme to bring tier 2 and tier 3 cities into the economic mainstream.
ATR Chief Executive Officer Nathalie Tarnaud Laude noted that the turboprop model provides unmatched economics, efficiency, and reliability for short regional routes, enabling affordable fares across India. She emphasized that the fleet expansion aligns closely with the Indian government's ambitions under the regional connectivity framework.
Harsha Raghavan, Chairman of FLY91 and Managing Partner of lead investor Convergent Finance, stated that regional connectivity will be a critical enabler of India's broader economic growth. FLY91 currently operates regional routes connecting secondary and tertiary urban centers across multiple Indian states.
