SUM Air Orders Up to 8 ATR 72-600s as South Korea's Newest Regional Carrier Scales Fleet

South Korea – ATR, the Toulouse-based regional turboprop manufacturer, has announced that South Korea's newest regional carrier SUM Air has placed an order for up to eight ATR 72-600 aircraft — comprising four firm orders and four purchase rights — with deliveries scheduled to begin from 2028.

• The agreement was signed on 3 April 2026 at the France–Korea bilateral economic forum in Seoul, attended by French President Emmanuel Macron. The order follows SUM Air's commercial launch on 30 March 2026 with scheduled services between Seoul Gimpo International Airport and Sacheon using a leased ATR 72-600 sourced from Singapore-based lessor Avation.
• SUM Air was founded in November 2022 as a subsidiary of Mobility as a Freedom (MAAF) with the objective of developing regional air connectivity across South Korea's underserved regions, island airports, and short-haul international routes to Japan and China. The airline received its Air Carrier Licence in February 2025 and its Air Operator Certificate on 10 March 2026 after more than three years of preparation including crew recruitment, training, safety validation, and aircraft integration.
• In 2024, the Korean government revised regional air service regulations, raising the maximum seat capacity permitted under the small aircraft operations licence from 50 to 80 seats — enabling the 72-seat ATR 72-600 to operate under this framework. SUM Air is the first carrier licensed under the revised scheme.
• ATR forecasts demand for 25 to 30 ATR 72-600 aircraft in the South Korean market over the coming years, citing the country's significant number of inhabited islands and strong demand potential for regional connectivity. Planned SUM Air destinations include future island airports at Ulleungdo, Baengnyeongdo, and Heuksando.
• The ATR 72-600's short-runway performance is positioned as critical for accessing island airports where jet aircraft cannot operate, supporting route viability on lower-density sectors that would not be commercially sustainable with larger aircraft.

Statements

• "The ATR 72-600, optimized for short-haul operations, will play a pivotal role in enabling SUM Air to deliver air services that connect islands and regions across Korea," said Yongduck Choi, Chief Executive Officer of SUM Air.
• "The ATR 72-600 is designed exactly for the type of regional connectivity SUM Air aims to develop. Its short-runway performance will allow SUM Air to access island airports where jets cannot operate, and its fuel efficiency and cost effectiveness make routes viable that would otherwise not be sustainable," said Nathalie Tarnaud Laude, Chief Executive Officer of ATR.

Source: SUM Air