Alliance Air (India) (9I, Delhi International) has signed long-term lease agreements for ten ATR 72-600s with DAE Capital the Dubai-based lessor has announced. In a statement issued Monday, May 1, DAE said the aircraft would deliver throughout 2017.

The aircraft will supplement the Air India (AI, Delhi International) unit's existing fleet of eight ATR72-600s and two ATR42-300s and will be used to facilitate growth in India's burgeoning domestic market. It is recalled the carrier was granted eight routes under the country's Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) with more expected in the ensuing rounds of allocation.

According to an airline source who spoke to the UNI news agency, a previous plan to add the ten ATR - Avions de Transport Régional turboprops by March 2016 was called off for unspecified reasons. As such, in addition to these ten DAE turboprops, a Request For Proposals (RFP) for an additional twenty aircraft is set to be issued during the current financial year which runs through to March 31, 2018.

Alliance Air focusses on providing connectivity between India's main hubs and various Tier II and III towns and cities. According to the ch-aviation route database, it serves thirty-four destinations at present time.