Indian Airline Fly91 closes record purchase of 40 ATR 72-600 aircraft
03 Sep 20262 min read2 views
Indian airline FLY91 today finalized the purchase of 40 ATR 72-600 aircraft valued at approximately $1 billion. The agreement stipulates that aircraft deliveries will begin in late 2027 and conclude in 2032 .
This order will increase the company's current fleet from six to 60 aircraft over the next five years, ATR said in a statement. The transaction brings the total number of aircraft purchased from the European manufacturer this year to 54.
The deal represents the manufacturer's largest firm sale in nearly ten years and the largest ever originating from a regional company. "The ATR 72-600 combines unmatched economy, efficiency, and reliability, enabling airlines to offer affordable fares while connecting millions of passengers with opportunities across India," said Nathalie Tarnaud Laude, CEO of the company. "We are incredibly proud that FLY91 chose ATR to support this new phase of its development," she added.
The Indian market sees approximately 4.6 billion intercity trips annually, of which only 3% are made by air, according to information provided by both companies. Expanding connectivity in the Asian country requires aircraft capable of operating short routes with low operating costs.
FLY91 plans to strengthen its operations between Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities in India . "Our company was built on a singular conviction: that the country needs a focused and dedicated regional aviation network that connects emerging cities directly and efficiently," said Manoj Chacko, founder and CEO of the airline. "The aircraft offers the ideal operating economics for our network, and our deep partnership with ATR will be central to driving the regional aviation revolution," he confirmed.
For his part, His Excellency, Mr. Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, Minister of Civil Aviation, was present at the signing of the agreement and emphasized the national priority of connecting major economic centers with smaller localities. "FLY91's fleet commitment reflects the confidence that India's aviation sector continues to inspire," the minister explained. "As we implement UDAN 2.0, investments of this scale in regional capacity will play a vital role," he added.
Currently, the Goa -based carrier operates more than 280 weekly flights to 13 destinations, including Pune , Bengaluru , Hyderabad and Agatti .
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