Fly91 orders 40 ATR aircraft to expand regional connectivity in India

Goa-based Fly91 has placed a $1 billion order for 40 ATR turboprops, signalling a long-term push into underserved Indian airports. Launched in March 2024, the regional carrier currently operates six aircraft across 13 destinations.

— Source publishedFri, 4 Sept, 2026, 15:51 IST·First seen Fri, 4 Sept, 2026, 15:59 IST·Source BL · Consumer & Economy

What happened

Goa-based regional airline Fly91 ordered 40 ATR aircraft worth $1 billion to expand connectivity across smaller Indian airports. The carrier, launched in March

Key facts

  • 40 ATR aircraft
  • $1 billion order value
  • 6 aircraft currently operated
  • 13 destinations currently served
  • Operations started in March 2024
  • IndiGo and Air India fly nine out of ten passengers
  • ATR produces 50- and 70-seat turboprops

Why this matters

Fly91’s expansion plan makes it a potentially attractive partner or target for aviation, hospitality, payments, and mobility players seeking distribution across India’s emerging tier-two and tier-three travel markets.

What to watch

  • ATR delivery schedule, financing structure and aircraft induction pace.
  • DGCA approvals, air operator capacity additions and pilot recruitment trends.
  • Announcements of new bases, destinations, route frequencies and UDAN awards.
  • Load factors, yields, fare discounting and route exits after launch.
  • Airport terminal, runway, navigation and ground-handling upgrades at targeted smaller cities.
  • Competitor capacity additions on Fly91 routes and changes in aviation turbine fuel costs.
  • Prioritize new routes from Goa and other western/southern hubs to underconnected tier-2 and tier-3 airports.
  • Seek UDAN participation, state tourism partnerships, airport incentives and viability-gap support for thin regional routes.
  • Build ATR-specific pilot, maintenance, spare-parts and training capacity ahead of deliveries.
  • Increase interline, codeshare or distribution partnerships to feed regional passengers into larger domestic and international networks.
  • Target leisure, visiting-friends-and-relatives, medical-travel and business corridors where rail or road travel is time-intensive.

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