NEW DELHI – Indian regional airline FLY91 is buying 40 ATR 72-600 turboprop aircraft in a deal valued at about $1 billion, as the country’s rapidly expanding aviation sector creates new opportunities for domestic connectivity, the Franco-Italian airplane manufacturer said Thursday.

FLY91 said in a separate release that the firm order is the largest for ATR aircraft globally by a regional airline, while ATR said it is its largest firm order in almost a decade. Deliveries are scheduled from 2027.

The agreement will support a major expansion by FLY91, which launched operations less than three years ago. The Goa-based airline plans to grow its fleet from six aircraft to 60 over the next five years as it expands its regional network across India.

FLY91 said the order will provide the scale to build a larger network connecting more unserved and underserved cities. The airline currently operates about 280 weekly flights to 12 cities, with a 13th destination scheduled to begin later this month.

India’s regional aviation expansion requires aircraft capable of operating short routes efficiently while keeping fares affordable, ATR said. The ATR 72-600 is suited to routes linking Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, where demand for air travel is growing.

FLY91 Chairman Harsha Raghavan said the order reflects the airline’s confidence in India’s growth and the potential of regional aviation.

Founder and CEO Manoj Chacko said the ATR 72-600 offers the operating economics needed for FLY91’s network and that the order will serve as a catalyst for its next phase of expansion.

ATR CEO Nathalie Tarnaud Laude said FLY91’s commitment reflects the growing role of regional aviation in connecting India’s next generation of travelers.

ATR, based in Toulouse, France, is a joint venture between European aircraft maker Airbus and Italian aerospace company Leonardo.

The FLY91 agreement takes ATR’s 2026 order intake to 54 aircraft, already exceeding its total net orders for all of 2025.