India's Fly91 orders 40 ATR turboprops in bet on smaller cities
NEW DELHI: Indian regional airline Fly91 on Thursday placed a firm order for 40 ATR 72-600 turboprops, one of the largest single orders ever for the Franco-Italian planemaker, as the carrier bets on demand from smaller Indian cities. The order is a major boost for ATR, which dominates the turboprop market but relies on a relatively small number of countries for sales. It also highlights India’s emergence as a key growth market for regional aircraft as the government funds air links to smaller cities. The deal is worth about $1 billion at list prices, though Chief Executive Manoj Chacko said Fly91 had secured an undisclosed discount, as is typical for large aircraft orders. Reuters reported earlier this week that the carrier was close to ordering at least 20 ATR turboprops. Chacko told Reuters the first aircraft would be delivered in the second half of 2027, with all 40 arriving by 2032 or early 2033. The airline, which currently operates six ATR 72-600s, plans to lease another six to eight aircraft from the open market before then, taking its fleet to 12 to 14 by late next year. “India’s air connectivity is so under-penetrated, it’s not funny,” Chacko said, adding that narrowbody p
India's Fly91 orders 40 ATR turboprops in bet on smaller cities
NEW DELHI: Indian regional airline Fly91 on Thursday placed a firm order for 40 ATR 72-600 turboprops, one of the largest single orders ever for the Franco-Italian planemaker, as the carrier bets on demand from smaller Indian cities. The order is a major boost for ATR, which dominates the turboprop market but relies on a relatively small number of countries for sales. It also highlights India’s emergence as a key growth market for regional aircraft as the government funds air links to smaller cities. The deal is worth about $1 billion at list prices, though Chief Executive Manoj Chacko said Fly91 had secured an undisclosed discount, as is typical for large aircraft orders. Reuters reported earlier this week that the carrier was close to ordering at least 20 ATR turboprops. Chacko told Reuters the first aircraft would be delivered in the second half of 2027, with all 40 arriving by 2032 or early 2033. The airline, which currently operates six ATR 72-600s, plans to lease another six to eight aircraft from the open market before then, taking its fleet to 12 to 14 by late next year. “India’s air connectivity is so under-penetrated, it’s not funny,” Chacko said, adding that narrowbody p
