FLY91 Orders 40 ATR Aircraft in $1 Billion Deal

Regional airline FLY91 placed a firm order for 40 ATR 72-600 turboprop aircraft on September 3, 2026, in a deal valued at nearly $1 billion. This represents the largest order for ATR aircraft by a regional carrier globally. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in late 2027 and conclude by 2032, which will expand the airline's fleet from six to over 60 aircraft.

The expansion targets unserved and underserved smaller Indian cities, utilizing turboprops that operate from shorter runways at lower costs than jets. The move aligns with the Indian government's Udan 2.0 regional connectivity scheme, which provides viability gap funding for non-commercially viable routes. To support this growth, FLY91 is raising Rs 250 crore and plans to lease six to eight additional aircraft from the open market by late 2027.

During the signing ceremony in New Delhi, Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu encouraged the aircraft manufacturer to establish a production facility in India. CEO Manoj Chacko described the order as the foundation for the company's next chapter, noting that the airline has built the necessary operating experience to scale significantly.