South Korean regional airline SUM Air placed a firm order for four ATR 72-600 aircraft with purchase rights for four more on April 3, 2026, during French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Seoul. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2028.
Founded in 2022 as a subsidiary of Mobility as a Freedom (MAAF), SUM Air received its Air Operator Certificate on March 30, 2026, and launched scheduled operations the same day with a leased ATR 72-600 from Singapore-based lessor Avation on the Seoul Gimpo (GMP) to Sacheon (HIN) route. The carrier had previously planned a fleet of at least three ATR 72-600s, with two additional leased units expected this year.
SUM, meaning island in Korean, targets connectivity to islands like Ulleungdo, Heuksando, and Baengnyeongdo, where 1,200-meter runways are under development, suiting the 72-seat ATR 72-600. This aligns with 2024 Korean government updates raising small aircraft operation seat limits from 50 to 80, making SUM Air the first licensed under the revised rules.
ATR anticipates 25 to 30 ATR 72-600s operating in Korea over coming years as SUM Air expands to China and Japan.