ATR - Avions de Transport Régional (EVX, Toulouse Blagnac) has announced an order from India's largest low-cost carrier IndiGo Airlines (6E, Delhi International) for fifty ATR72-600 aircraft. The agreement includes a provision that allows IndiGo to reduce the number of aircraft on order from ATR under certain provisions, presumably related to future terms and conditions of the Indian government's UDAN scheme for regional services.
Aditya Ghosh, President of IndiGo, said: “In support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s UDAN vision, we are embarking on a journey to build a nation-wide regional network and connect cities that have not benefitted from the growth in Indian aviation.”
Under the deal valued at over USD1.3 billion at ATR list prices, the first of the fifty turboprops are expected to be delivered towards the end of 2017.
India's Regional Connectivity Scheme, also known as UDAN, aims to connect underserved areas with regular, subsidised flights. The subsidies are funded through a levy on tickets sold for other domestic flights on major city pairs within India.
IndiGo currently operates 133 A320-200 and A320neo aircraft on domestic services and international flights to Nepal, Oman, Qatar, Singapore, Thailand and the UAE.
