In a landmark development for India's regional aviation sector, pure-play regional carrier FLY91 today 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.
The landmark deal, valued at approximately $1 billion, marks a defining milestone in India's regional aviation journey and is set to be a gamechanger for regional aviation in the country.
In just two and a half years since commencing operations, Goa based FLY91 has built a strong operating foundation, having operated more than 15,000 flights and close to 280 weekly flights to 12 cities, with its 13th destination set to commence later this month. From its current fleet of six ATR 72-600 aircraft, FLY91 is now poised for exponential expansion to more than 60 aircraft over the coming years. The landmark order for 40 aircraft will provide the scale to build a much larger regional network and connect more unserved and underserved cities across the country.
The order marks a defining step in FLY91's ambition to build a dedicated regional aviation network for Connecting Bharat. This comes at a time when the Government of India is giving fresh impetus to regional connectivity through the newly announced UDAN 2.0 framework.
The signing ceremony took place at Udaan Bhawan, Ministry of Civil Aviation, in New Delhi, in the presence of Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, Union Minister for Civil Aviation; Nathalie Tarnaud Laude, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), ATR, Alexis Vidal, Chief Commercial Officer, ATR, Manoj Chacko, Founder, Managing Director and CEO, FLY91 and Harsha Raghavan, Chairman, FLY91 and Managing Partner Convergent Finance, along with ministry officials and other dignitaries.
The order further strengthens ATR's presence in India, one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets. With its strong fuel efficiency, lower emissions and ability to operate effectively from shorter runways, the ATR 72-600 is the perfect aircraft for regional flying in India.
Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, Union Minister for Civil Aviation, said, "Regional connectivity is a fundamental pillar of India's aviation growth story, and bridging smaller cities with major economic hubs remains a national priority. The Government's ₹28,840 crore investment under the UDAN 2.0 framework reflects our strong commitment to expanding regional air connectivity and bringing more tier 2 and tier 3 cities into the national economic mainstream. FLY91's track record and its landmark fleet commitment reflects the confidence that India's aviation sector continues to inspire, and investments of this scale in regional capacity will play a vital role in translating this vision into reality."
Manoj Chacko, Founder, Managing Director and CEO, FLY91, said, "FLY91 was built on a singular conviction that India needs a dedicated regional airline focused on connecting emerging cities directly and efficiently. We have grown steadily and consistently since our launch, and this 40-aircraft order becomes the foundation for our next chapter. Having operated more than 15,000 flights in just two and a half years, we have built the operating experience and foundation to now scale significantly. Together with ATR, we are building the regional aviation network that Bharat deserves, one that unlocks opportunity, strengthens local economies, and truly keeps Bharat Unbound."
Nathalie Tarnaud Laude, Chief Executive Officer, ATR, said, "We are incredibly proud that FLY91 has chosen ATR to support this new phase of its development. This expansion aligns closely with the Indian Government's ambition to strengthen regional connectivity through UDAN, bringing affordable and reliable air transport to underserved communities. The ATR 72-600 combines unmatched economics, efficiency and reliability, enabling airlines to offer affordable fares while connecting millions of passengers to opportunities across India."
Harsha Raghavan, Chairman, FLY91 and Managing Partner, Convergent Finance, said: "As a founding partner of FLY91 and its lead investor, we have believed from the outset in the convergence of two powerful opportunities: India's growth story and the potential of regional aviation. This 40-aircraft order is a defining milestone for FLY91 and provides the platform to scale our vision over the coming years. We believe regional connectivity will be a critical enabler of India's next phase of growth, linking emerging economic centres, businesses and communities across the country."
Since commencing commercial operations, FLY91 has pursued steady and measured growth as a pure-play regional carrier. In just two and a half years, the airline has operated more than 15,000 flights and currently operates close to 280 weekly flights across 12 destinations. Its 13th destination is scheduled to commence later this month. The airline currently operates a fleet of six ATR 72-600 aircraft across its regional network.
