Fly91 Orders 40 ATR-72 Aircraft to Expand Regional Connectivity in India
Quick Look
- Regional airline Fly91 has placed an order for 40 ATR-72 turboprop aircraft valued at over $1 billion at list price, with deliveries expected to begin in late 2027.
- The order will more than double the airline's fleet and expand service to tier-two and tier-three cities across India.
- Fly91 is also raising ₹250 crore from investors to support its growth plans.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Fly91 currently operates a small fleet of ATR-72 aircraft under India's UDAN regional connectivity scheme, serving airports like Sindhudurg and Jalgaon. The airline aims to expand access to underserved tier-2 and tier-3 cities where larger jets cannot operate.
Synopsis
Regional airline Fly91 has placed an order for forty new ATR-72 turboprop aircraft, which will drastically increase its fleet size. Anticipated deliveries will commence by late 2027, helping to fill the connectivity gap in tier-two and tier-three cities across India. To sustain this ambitious growth, Fly91 is also seeking additional funding to support its expansion strategies.
New Delhi: Regional airline Fly91 has placed an order for 40 ATR-72 turboprop aircraft, one of the largest for the type in recent times, as the carrier bets on expanding connectivity to smaller towns and cities across India underserved by larger jets, said people aware of the development.
At list price, the order is valued at more than $1 billion. However, airlines tend to get heavy discounts on such large orders.
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Fly91 is also in the process of raising about ₹250 crore from existing and new investors to support its expansion plans, the people said.
The order will more than double Fly91's fleet and significantly expand its footprint across tier-2 and -3 cities. The carrier currently operates a small fleet of ATR-72 planes connecting airports under the government's UDAN regional connectivity scheme, including Sindhudurg and Jalgaon.
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Deliveries of the new planes are slated to start towards the end of 2027 and completed over five years.
Spokespeople at Fly91 and ATR didn't respond to queries.
Manoj Chacko, founder and CEO, Fly91, said: "We are heavily bullish on the India story and want to build a reliable transportation company out of India. There are 100 such airports in India where a big aircraft like Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 can't go. The ATR-72 aircraft perfectly suits those routes and for our cost model."
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Fly91 will begin receiving ATR-72 deliveries in late 2027
Very likely · Within years
Fly91's fleet will more than double with the new order
Certain · Within years
Fly91 will expand its footprint across tier-2 and tier-3 cities in India
Very likely · Within years
Open Questions
- What is the exact discount Fly91 received on the ATR-72 order?
- Which investors are participating in the ₹250 crore funding round?
- What specific routes will the new aircraft serve?
- How will Fly91 finance the aircraft beyond the equity raise?
