India's Fly91 close to ordering at least 20 ATR turboprops, sources say

NEW DELHI/PARIS: Indian regional airline Fly91 is close to placing an order for at least 20 turboprop aircraft from Franco-Italian planemaker ATR as it seeks to expand its fleet, three sources familiar with the matter said.

The deal would be a significant bet on the regional aviation market in India, where the government has sought to bring dozens of smaller cities into the air network through a subsidized regional connectivity scheme, although many routes have been discontinued.

The order could include options for several more aircraft, two sources said. One said an announcement could be made as early as this week.

A spokesperson for ATR declined to comment. Fly91 did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The sources spoke on condition of anonymity as the negotiations are confidential. They said the deal has not been finalised and the number of aircraft and timing of an announcement could change.

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ATR has dominated turboprop market

The deal would be a significant boost for ATR, which dominates turboprop sales but depends on a relatively small number of markets for its orders.

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, which began commercial flights in 2024 from Goa’s Manohar International Airport, operates ATR 72-600s to about a dozen destinations.

The airline has said it plans to induct 30 aircraft and connect more than 50 cities within five years. It is backed by private equity firm Convergent Finance.

India, the world’s fastest-growing aviation market, said earlier this year it would invest about $3 billion as part of the regional connectivity scheme, known as Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik, or “let the common citizen of the country fly,” to increase air transport to under-served regions in the country.

Under the scheme, India will develop 100 airports from existing unserved airstrips and continue subsidising routes that would otherwise be unviable.