India’s regional carrier FLY91 has leased two ATR 72‑600 turboprop aircraft to expand its fleet and strengthen domestic air connectivity, a key development in the country’s aviation sector and a boon for regional travellers.
Goa‑headquartered regional airline FLY91 has formally announced that it has secured two ATR 72‑600 turboprop aircraft on lease to accelerate its network expansion and enhance domestic travel options across India’s less‑served markets. In press releases and industry disclosures, FLY91 stated that the aircraft lease agreements were signed with Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) and specialist regional lessor TrueNoord under long‑term operating contracts.
According to the airline’s official release, both new aircraft are scheduled for delivery in early 2026, with one already in service and the other expected to enter operations shortly. FLY91’s leadership emphasised that this fleet expansion aligns with their strategic vision of deepening regional air connectivity by linking smaller cities and emerging markets with major Indian centres.
This move also reflects broader government support for regional aviation under initiatives such as UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik), which promotes affordable air travel to underserved destinations, stimulating economic and tourism growth.
FLY91’s latest aircraft induction involves two ATR 72‑600 turboprop jets — modern, efficient short‑haul aircraft ideal for regional routes. One of the planes, registered MSN 1233, arrived in late December 2025 and is already operational, while the second, MSN 1236, was delivered in mid‑January 2026 and is poised to enter service soon.
Both aircraft are leased from trusted aviation lessors, enabling FLY91 to grow its fleet cost‑efficiently without heavy upfront capital expenditure. This scalable fleet strategy supports robust network planning, schedule optimisation, and improved aircraft utilisation.
Once the new ATR 72‑600s are fully integrated, FLY91’s fleet strength will increase — enabling the airline to offer more frequencies and routes between key regional cities. Many of these routes had limited or no direct service before, especially in tier‑2 and tier‑3 markets.
FLY91’s fleet expansion comes amid a broader push in India’s aviation policy to support regional connectivity and economic inclusion through enhanced air mobility. The government’s UDAN scheme has unlocked opportunities for airlines like FLY91 to serve neglected air markets, stimulating business travel, tourism inflows, and inbound investment in regional economies.
FLY91’s leadership highlighted that the ATR 72‑600 platform is not only fuel‑efficient but also ideal for short‑service frequencies and operations into smaller airports that are otherwise inaccessible to larger jets. This focus reflects a market‑led strategy to capture demand where conventional carriers have limited presence.
The addition of two ATR 72‑600 turboprop aircraft represents a strong growth signal from India’s regional airline sector. For travellers, this means deeper domestic connectivity, more travel choices and enhanced access to smaller cities, supporting both business and leisure journeys. While early integration challenges may occur, FLY91’s scalable fleet strategy positions it well within India’s fast‑growing aviation landscape — bridging mobility gaps and making air travel more inclusive and affordable across the subcontinent.
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