'Fly91 close to ordering at least 20 ATR turboprops'

Indian regional airline Fly91 is on the verge of signing a deal to purchase at least 20 turboprop aircraft from French-Italian manufacturer ATR, according to sources familiar with the negotiations. The order would be a substantial investment in the regional aviation market of India, which the government aims to expand through a subsidized regional connectivity scheme.

While many routes have been discontinued, the scheme aims to connect dozens of smaller cities to the air network. The potential deal could also include options for additional aircraft, with an announcement possibly coming as early as this week. ATR, which currently dominates the turboprop market, would benefit significantly from this order, as the deal would bolster its presence in a market where the company relies on a limited number of regions for its business.