Air India Considers ATRs for Regional Flights

Priyal DuttaJuly 3, 20241 Mins read676

Air India’s Regional Routes to Utilize ATRs

As reported by Mint, Air India is considering expanding its services to include more regional routes within India. The airline is currently in internal discussions regarding the possibility of increasing the number of flights between major Indian cities and smaller tier two and three cities and introducing point-to-point flights between various smaller cities.

Discussions have taken place internally and further assessments will be carried out before reaching a final decision

An anonymous Air India official stated, “Discussions have taken place on this matter. These are internal discussions; further assessments will be conducted before a final decision is reached. There is a clear opportunity in the regional aviation sector, and our goal is to offer a comprehensive travel solution to Indian travellers.”

Previously, Air India’s subsidiary, Alliance Air, served regional domestic flights

Previously, Air India’s subsidiary, Alliance Air, operated regional domestic routes while the parent company focused on trunk and international operations. However, with Air India’s ownership transfer to Tata Sons in early 2022, Alliance Air remained under government control, leaving Air India without a substantial regional network. The Indian government’s Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) scheme, which includes subsidies for airlines to operate certain-sized aircraft on underserved and unserved regional routes, has made the regional aviation sector more financially appealing to various operators.

ded — The Air India Group is very interested in flying ATR – Avions de Transport Régional turboprop aircraft

The official mentioned that operating ATR – Avions de Transport Régional turboprops is one of the options being considered by the Air India Group with great interest. While Air India’s largest local competitor, IndiGo, has an extensive regional network and relies on a fleet of forty-five ATR72-600s for its regional operations, Air India does not currently operate any turboprop aircraft. SpiceJet also has regional operations with twenty-four DHC-8-Q400s tasked for regional flights, though 18 of those aircraft are currently inactive. Additionally, start-ups like Star Air, Fly91, and Flybig have recently entered the regional aviation space with smaller fleets and varying degrees of success.

Written by

Priyal Dutta - Senior Correspondent/Editor

As Senior Correspondent and Editor at Safari India, I write about the people, businesses, and trends shaping the travel, tourism, hospitality, aviation, and lifestyle industries. My work ranges from breaking news and exclusive interviews to in-depth features and industry analysis, with a focus on delivering accurate, balanced, and engaging stories. I enjoy uncovering the details behind every story and presenting them in a way that keeps readers informed and connected to an ever-evolving industry.