South Korea’s SUM Air, a start-up regional carrier, has secured a 12-year lease for its first ATR 72-600 from Avation, with plans to expand its fleet to up to eight units. The aircraft, registered HL5264 (msn 1745), a brand-new 72-seat turboprop equipped with Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127XT engines, was ferried from Toulouse Blagnac via Ankara, Tashkent, and Lanzhou to Seoul Gimpo between December 31, 2025, and January 2, 2026. This delivery forms part of Avation’s 2024 order for ten ATR 72-600s.
SUM Air, established in November 2022, obtained its Air Carrier License in February 2025 and received its Air Operator Certificate recently. The airline intends to use the ATR 72-600 for certification flights and launch commercial operations by mid-2026, starting with the Gimpo-Sacheon route on March 30, 2026. Future plans include services to Ulleungdo Island, Japan, and continental connections, targeting underserved areas with short runways as low as 1,200 meters.
“With the ATR72-600, SUM Air will address the transportation problems of areas with low air transport accessibility. Thanks to the revitalisation of regional airports, we will grow as a central airline for regional transportation connecting all of Korea,” said chief executive Choi Yong-deok. The aircraft’s efficiency—consuming 45% less fuel and emitting 45% less CO2 than comparable jets—supports operations on runways requiring just 1,315 meters for takeoff at maximum takeoff weight. ATR anticipates a South Korean fleet of 25 to 30 ATR 72-600s within seven years to boost short-haul connectivity.