FLY91 Seals Historic $1 Billion Deal for 40 ATR 72-600 Turboprops: Powering India's Regional UDAN 2.0 Network

In the largest order for regional turboprop aircraft in global aviation history, Goa-based regional carrier FLY91 has inked a landmark US$1 billion deal for 40 ATR 72-600 aircraft, laying the foundation to expand its fleet beyond 60 planes and unlock air connectivity across Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities under India’s ₹28,840 crore UDAN 2.0 framework.

Regional Aviation Redefined: A Billion-Dollar Bet on Bharat

While India’s major trunk carriers have dominated global headlines with massive hundreds-strong narrowbody and widebody jet orders, the real revolution in domestic connectivity is taking flight across the nation’s interior.

FLY91, the Goa-headquartered regional airline operating out of Manohar International Airport (Mopa), has finalized a historic purchase agreement with European manufacturer ATR for 40 firm ATR 72-600 aircraft.

Valued at approximately US$1 billion, the transaction represents the largest order for ATR aircraft in aviation history and the single largest commitment for any regional commercial aircraft ever recorded.

The deal accelerates FLY91’s expansion from its current boutique fleet of six ATR 72-600s to more than 60 aircraft in the coming years, transforming point-to-point regional transit across unserved and underserved hinterland districts.

[FLY91 Fleet: 6 ATR 72-600s Today]
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        ┌─────────┴─────────┐
        ▼                   ▼
[Historic 40-Aircraft Order]  [Target Fleet: 60+ Turboprops]
        │                   │
        └─────────┬─────────┘
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[UDAN 2.0 Alignment: ₹28,840 Crore Regional Expansion across Tier 2/3 Cities]

Two and a Half Years of Proven Operational Discipline

FLY91’s massive aircraft commitment comes on the heels of disciplined operational execution:

Operational Metric	FLY91 Benchmark Achievement	Strategic Travel Impact
Operational History	Two and a half (2.5) years	Rapid maturation from startup to established regional carrier
Completed Flights	More than 15,000 flights	High dispatch reliability across regional sectors
Weekly Frequencies	Nearly 280 weekly flights	High-frequency schedule connecting secondary business corridors
Network Breadth	12 operational destinations	13th destination launching before the end of September 2026
Current Fleet	6 ATR 72-600 aircraft	Efficient 70-to-72-seat twin-turboprops with short-field capability
Long-Term Fleet Target	Over 60 aircraft	Scaled point-to-point network across non-metro economic centers

The official signing ceremony took place at Udaan Bhawan, the headquarters of the Ministry of Civil Aviation in New Delhi. The event was attended by Union Minister for Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, ATR Chief Executive Officer Nathalie Tarnaud Laude, ATR Chief Commercial Officer Alexis Vidal, FLY91 Founder, Managing Director and CEO Manoj Chacko, and FLY91 Chairman and Convergent Finance Managing Partner Harsha Raghavan.

Backed by UDAN 2.0: The ₹28,840 Crore National Vision

The expansion aligns with the Government of India’s UDAN 2.0 framework (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik), designed to integrate emerging economic centers into the national aviation grid.

Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu emphasized that the government has allocated ₹28,840 crore under UDAN 2.0 to develop regional airstrips, upgrade airport navigational aids, and subsidize regional seat capacity.

For FLY91, the ATR 72-600 provides the ideal operational tool:

• Runway Flexibility: Able to operate reliably on runways under 1,200 meters, unlocking remote island, coastal, and hill-station airstrips inaccessible to Airbus A320 or Boeing 737 jets.
• Fuel and Carbon Efficiency: Consumes up to 45% less fuel and emits 45% less CO2 than comparable regional jet aircraft on routes under 500 kilometers, preserving low operating seat-mile costs.
• Affordable Fares: Low trip costs enable sustainable, affordable ticket pricing for local traders, entrepreneurs, healthcare professionals, and cultural travelers.

Cultural and Economic Unlocking: The Rise of Tier 2 & 3 Tourism

FLY91’s expansion promises to fundamentally alter how cultural travelers experience India’s rich heritage:

• Sindhudurg and the Konkan Fortress Trail: Operating direct hops into Chipi Airport (Sindhudurg) allows travelers to bypass 10-hour coastal road journeys, providing instant access to the majestic 17th-century sea fort of Sindhudurg Fort built by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, paired with homestays serving spicy Malvani seafood and fresh solkadhi.
• Lakshadweep & Agatti Gateway: Turboprop links open sustainable, regulated eco-tourism to pristine coral atolls without straining delicate island resources.
• Ajanta & Ellora via Jalgaon: Direct regional flights to Jalgaon connect international art historians and domestic travelers directly to the UNESCO World Heritage rock-cut Buddhist caves of Ajanta (dating from the 2nd century BCE) in just 90 minutes by road.

Local Insider Guidance for Flying Regional Turboprops with FLY91

Traveling on regional turboprop aircraft offers a charming, scenic flying experience, but requires specific preparation:

• Valet Baggage ("Delivery at Aircraft") Rules:
  • The overhead luggage bins on the ATR 72-600 are narrower than those on mainline jet aircraft. Standard 22-inch hard-shell roller bags often will not fit in the overhead compartments.
  • Utilize FLY91’s complimentary "Delivery at Aircraft" service: baggage tags are applied at the boarding gate, your roller bag is stowed in the aircraft cargo hold, and it is handed back to you immediately on the tarmac steps upon deplaning, eliminating carousel wait times.
• Optimal Seat Selection on the ATR 72-600:
  • Boarding from the Rear: Unlike jetliners, passengers board the ATR 72-600 through the rear passenger door via integrated air stairs. If you want to be first off the aircraft upon arrival, choose seats in Rows 14 through 18.
  • Quietest Cabin Zone: For the quietest acoustic experience away from the twin Pratt & Whitney PW127M propeller blades, select seats in the rear third of the cabin (Rows 12 to 17).
• Support Local Artisans at Regional Terminals: Regional airports served by FLY91—such as Mopa (Goa), Kolhapur, Sindhudurg, or Jalgaon—feature government-sponsored One Station One Product craft stalls. Pick up authentic hand-pounded Kolhapuri leather chappals, GI-tagged cashews, Konkan kokum syrups, or handcrafted terracotta pottery directly from local cooperatives.
• Scenic Low-Altitude Photography: Turboprop aircraft cruise at lower cruising altitudes (typically 18,000 to 22,000 feet) compared to 36,000 feet for jetliners. Book a window seat for breathtaking, clear panoramas of the Western Ghats, monsoon river deltas, and coastal archipelagos.

Long-Term Outlook: Bharat Unbound

As FLY91 scales from its current 12-city network toward 60+ aircraft across the next five years, it addresses the missing link in Indian aviation: direct, efficient, point-to-point regional mobility that bypasses congested mega-hubs like Mumbai and Delhi.

By combining the proven economics of the ATR 72-600 with the policy momentum of the ₹28,840 crore UDAN 2.0 initiative, FLY91 is not just buying airplanes—it is opening the economic and cultural heart of Bharat to the world.

Frequently Asked Questions: FLY91 ATR 72-600 Aircraft Order

How many aircraft did FLY91 order from ATR? FLY91 signed a firm order for 40 ATR 72-600 regional turboprop aircraft, valued at approximately US$1 billion.

What is the historical significance of this order? This is the largest order for ATR aircraft in the manufacturer's history and the single largest order for any regional aircraft model worldwide.

How many planes does FLY91 currently fly, and what is its target fleet size? FLY91 currently operates a fleet of six ATR 72-600 aircraft and plans to scale its fleet to more than 60 aircraft over the coming years.

What is India’s UDAN 2.0 framework? UDAN 2.0 is a ₹28,840 crore regional connectivity framework launched by the Ministry of Civil Aviation to upgrade airstrips and subsidize flights connecting Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities across India.

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