New Delhi: India’s regional aviation sector has received a significant boost with airline FLY91 signing an order for 40 ATR 72-600 aircraft, described as the largest ATR aircraft order placed globally by a regional airline.
Union Minister for Civil Aviation Shri Ram Mohan Naidu witnessed the signing ceremony. MoCA Secretary Shri Samir Kumar Sinha and senior officials of the Ministry were also present.
The sizeable aircraft order comes at a time when India’s regional aviation network is expanding rapidly, with airlines looking to increase capacity on routes connecting Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, smaller towns and underserved regions.
Push for regional connectivity
The development is expected to strengthen FLY91’s ability to expand its operations beyond India’s major aviation hubs and connect more emerging cities with the country’s wider air transport network.
The ATR 72-600, a twin-engine turboprop aircraft designed for regional operations, is particularly suited to shorter routes and airports where demand may not support larger narrow-body aircraft. Its deployment can therefore play an important role in opening up new regional routes.
UDAN enters its next phase
The expansion comes alongside the government’s continued push to improve regional air connectivity through the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) programme.
Under the next phase of UDAN, the government has committed an investment of ₹28,840 crore to further develop regional connectivity and bring more cities and underserved areas into India’s aviation network.
The initiative is aimed at making air travel more accessible while supporting the economic development of smaller cities by improving their links with major commercial and industrial centres.
Strengthening India’s aviation ecosystem
The FLY91 order also reflects growing confidence in the long-term potential of India’s regional aviation market. Increasing aircraft capacity, the expansion of regional routes and government-backed connectivity initiatives are creating opportunities for airlines to serve markets that were previously poorly connected by air.
The 40-aircraft order is therefore more than an expansion plan for FLY91—it signals the growing importance of regional aviation in India’s broader connectivity strategy and could help bring more Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities closer to the national air transport network.