Seoul-based SUM Air, Korea’s newest regional airline, has ordered four ATR 72-600 aircraft with options for four more, according to ATR announcements on April 3, 2026. Deliveries are set to begin in 2028.
The agreement was signed during a France-Korea bilateral economic forum in Seoul, attended by French President Emmanuel Macron. SUM Air, the first carrier licensed under revised Korean regulations, will use the 72-seat turboprops to expand domestic regional connectivity. In 2024, the government raised the maximum seat capacity for small aircraft operations from 50 to 80 seats, enabling deployment of the ATR 72-600 under this framework.
ATR, the Franco-Italian regional aircraft manufacturer, highlighted the deal as support for sustainable air services in the region. The order aligns with broader South Korea-France cooperation in aerospace, discussed during Macron’s state visit.