FLY91 Places Landmark Order for 40 ATR 72-600 Aircraft; Largest ATR Order Globally by a Regional Airline
In a landmark development for India’s regional aviation sector, pure-play regional carrier FLY91 signed a firm order for 40 ATR 72-600 aircraft, marking the largest ATR order globally by any regional airline. This sets the stage for one of the most significant fleet expansions by a regional carrier in India.
Deal Highlights
- Order: 40 ATR 72-600 aircraft
- Value: Approx. $1 billion
- Significance: Largest ATR order globally by any regional airline
- Fleet Growth: Expands from 6 aircraft today to 60+ aircraft in coming years
Strategic Impact
- Regional Connectivity: Strengthens FLY91’s mission of Connecting Bharat by linking underserved tier 2 & tier 3 cities.
- Government Alignment: Supports India’s UDAN 2.0 framework, backed by ₹28,840 crore investment in regional aviation.
- ATR Advantage: Fuel-efficient, lower emissions, short-runway capability — ideal for India’s diverse regional airports.
Key Voices
- Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu (Civil Aviation Minister): Regional connectivity is a pillar of India’s aviation growth; this order reflects confidence in the sector.
- Manoj Chacko (CEO, FLY91): “This 40-aircraft order becomes the foundation for our next chapter… building the regional aviation network that Bharat deserves.”
- Nathalie Tarnaud Laude (CEO, ATR): Praised the alignment with UDAN and ATR’s role in affordable, reliable connectivity.
- Harsha Raghavan (Chairman, FLY91): Called regional aviation a critical enabler of India’s next phase of growth.
FLY91 Track Record
- Founded: Goa-based, launched operations ~2.5 years ago
- Flights Operated: 15,000+
- Weekly Flights: ~280
- Destinations: 12 cities (13th launching soon)
- Current Fleet: 6 ATR 72-600 aircraft
Why It Matters
This order positions FLY91 as India’s largest pure-play regional airline, creating a dedicated network that could transform accessibility for smaller cities, boost local economies, and reshape the country’s aviation landscape.
It’s a bold bet: FLY91 is essentially building India’s version of a regional super-network, something the market has long needed.
