Goa-based regional airline Fly91 has placed an order for 40 ATR 72-600 aircraft in a deal valued at approximately $1 billion, marking the largest-ever ATR order globally by a regional airline. The deal represents a significant expansion from the airline's previous plans to order at least 20 turboprop aircraft from Franco-Italian planemaker ATR, as reported by PTI. The order was signed on Thursday at Udaan Bhawan in New Delhi in the presence of Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, ATR CEO Nathalie Tarnaud Laude, FLY91 Chairman Harsha Raghavan, and other key stakeholders. FLY91 Chairman Raghavan described the 40-aircraft order as a defining milestone for FLY91, with the airline positioned for exponential expansion to more than 60 aircraft over the coming years.
FLY91 plans to add 40 ATR aircraft to its fleet as the regional airline expands to 50 cities over the next five years from 12 currently, co-founder Manoj Chacko told PTI. The airline will lease another six to eight aircraft before deliveries begin and expects its fleet to reach more than 60 aircraft over the coming years, as reported by Business Standard. The first aircraft is expected to be delivered by the end of 2027, with the full fleet to be in place within five years. Currently, FLY91 operates six ATR 72-600 aircraft and runs more than 280 weekly flights connecting 12 cities. The airline currently operates from bases in Goa and Hyderabad, connecting cities including Pune, Sindhudurg, Solapur, Jalgaon, Agatti, and Hubballi. The airline currently operates close to 280 flights a week to 12 cities and has flown more than 15,000 flights since launching operations, with its 13th destination scheduled to be added later this month.
India and Indonesia are among the most active markets for turboprops, which are economical on short domestic or island-hopping routes and are prized for their ability to support regional development. FLY91 has positioned itself around regional connectivity, particularly on underserved routes where demand for direct air links remains strong. The airline currently connects destinations including Pune, Sindhudurg, Solapur and Jalgaon in Maharashtra; Agatti in Lakshadweep; Hubballi in Karnataka; Tirupati, Vijayawada and Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh, besides Bengaluru, Goa, Kochi and Hyderabad. The ATR 72-600 is a turboprop aircraft designed for regional operations and is suited to connecting smaller cities and airports, offering fuel efficiency and the ability to operate from shorter runways. ATR CEO Nathalie Tarnaud Laude said the ATR 72-600 combines economics, efficiency and reliability, allowing airlines to offer affordable fares while connecting passengers across India. Chacko noted that the airline's ATR aircraft would give it an advantage on fuel costs because they consume less fuel, with fuel accounting for 22% of FLY91's revenue before the Gulf crisis, compared with 38% for other airlines.
India, the world's fastest-growing aviation market, has announced a ₹28,840 crore investment under the newly announced UDAN 2.0 framework to expand regional air connectivity. As reported by Moneycontrol, UDAN 2.0 was approved by the Union Cabinet on March 25, 2026, and launched on July 4, with a ₹28,840 crore allocation for 2026-27 to 2035-36. The scheme will develop 100 airports from existing airstrips and 200 helipads, and provide airlines with ₹10,043 crore in viability-gap funding, a subsidy that supports flights on routes that are not commercially viable. Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu stated that regional connectivity remains a fundamental pillar of India's aviation growth story, with the government's investment demonstrating its commitment to expanding air transport to under-served regions. The minister emphasized that bridging smaller cities with major economic hubs remains a national priority.
The order will further expand India's ATR fleet, which currently comprises about 70 aircraft across three airlines. IndiGo operates 44 ATR 72-600s, Alliance Air has 18 ATR 72-600s and two ATR 42-600s, while FLY91 currently operates six ATR 72-600s. The order is larger than the previous biggest ATR deal by a regional airline, although it is not the largest ATR order overall - IndiGo's 2017 order for 50 ATR 72-600 aircraft remains larger, while Taiwan's UNI Air ordered 19 ATR aircraft in 2025. ATR CEO Nathalie Tarnaud Laude noted that the aircraft would help FLY91 expand regional connectivity while offering affordable fares, with these aircraft producing 45% less carbon dioxide emissions than similar-sized regional jets. FLY91 is also in the process of raising ₹250 crore, with 25% of the funding round already completed, as reported by PTI.
Separately, former Indian Air Force Group Captain and Vir Chakra awardee Abhinandan Varthaman has joined FLY91 as a pilot, according to sources cited by PTI. The 43-year-old fighter pilot, who retired from the IAF in March this year, joined the airline in August last month. Varthaman shot down a Pakistani F-16 during an aerial combat in February 2019, before his MiG-21 Bison was also hit. He was forced to eject over Pakistan-occupied territory and was subsequently captured by Pakistani forces and held for three days. He was awarded the Vir Chakra, India's third-highest wartime gallantry award, in 2021 for displaying an "exceptional sense of duty" during the aerial combat. The award citation praised his actions during the dogfight, in which he engaged Pakistani aircraft despite being confronted by a numerically superior force. Chacko also revealed that the airline has close to 15 veterans who have served in the Indian military.
