SUM Air, South Korea’s newest regional airline, has placed an order for four new ATR 72-600 aircraft, with options for four additional units, with deliveries scheduled from 2028. The agreement was signed during the France–Korea bilateral economic forum in Seoul, attended by the French President, marking a significant milestone for the airline, which commenced commercial operations in March 2026 with a leased ATR 72-600 from Avation.
Founded in 2022, SUM Air aims to reconnect underserved regions across South Korea—including future island airports—as well as develop short-haul international routes to neighbouring countries such as Japan and China, offering reliable, efficient and affordable air transport. The airline received its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) on 10 March 2026, following more than three years of preparation, staff training, safety validation and aircraft integration.
ATR has long identified South Korea as a market with significant untapped potential for regional aviation, forecasting a fleet of 25 to 30 ATR 72 aircraft in the country in the coming years. SUM Air’s decision reinforces this outlook and reflects growing confidence in ATR’s advanced turboprop technology as a well-suited solution for the country’s geography and route structure.
