Seoul, 3 April 2026 – ATR, the world’s leading regional aircraft manufacturer, today announced that SUM Air, Korea’s newest regional airline, has placed an order for four brand‑new ATR 72‑600 aircraft, along with four additional purchase rights, with deliveries scheduled from 2028. The agreement was signed on the occasion of the France–Korea bilateral economic forum held in Seoul, attended by the French President, marking a significant milestone for the airline, which began its commercial operations in March 2026 with a new leased ATR 72-600 from Avation.
Founded in 2022, SUM Air aims to reconnect Korea’s most underserved regions – including future island airports and short-haul routes to neighbouring countries like Japan and China – with reliable, responsible and affordable air mobility. The airline received its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) on 10 March 2026, following more than three years of preparation, personnel training, safety validation and aircraft integration.
This new order represents the next step in SUM Air’s long-term vision, ensuring the airline can gradually expand its domestic and international network while supporting Korea’s ambition to enhance regional mobility.
Yongduck Choi, Chief Executive Officer of SUM Air, said: “Sum Air, a regional air mobility airline, aims to strengthen regional connectivity across Korea and serve as a key part of the aviation infrastructure supporting regional revitalization through its partnership with ATR, a world-leading manufacturer of regional aircraft. Starting with the Gimpo–Sacheon route, we will build a spoke network linking inland and island airports. The aircraft acquired through this agreement will be deployed to operate routes to island airports such as Ulleungdo, Baengnyeongdo, and Heuksando. 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.”
Nathalie Tarnaud Laude, Chief Executive Officer of ATR, added: “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. With this aircraft, SUM Air can reliably serve communities across Korea, from east to west and from the mainland to future island airports, while keeping operations economical and environmentally responsible.”
ATR has long identified Korea as a market with significant untapped potential for regional aviation, forecasting a fleet of 25–30 ATR 72 aircraft in the country within the coming years. SUM Air’s decision reinforces this outlook and reflects growing confidence in ATR’s state-of-the-art turboprop technology as the right solution for Korea’s geography and route structure.
Yongduck Choi, Chief Executive Officer of SUM Air, said: “Sum Air, a regional air mobility airline, aims to strengthen regional connectivity across Korea and serve as a key part of the aviation infrastructure supporting regional revitalization through its partnership with ATR, a world-leading manufacturer of regional aircraft. Starting with the Gimpo–Sacheon route, we will build a spoke network linking inland and island airports. The aircraft acquired through this agreement will be deployed to operate routes to island airports such as Ulleungdo, Baengnyeongdo, and Heuksando. 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.”
Nathalie Tarnaud Laude, Chief Executive Officer of ATR, added: “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. With this aircraft, SUM Air can reliably serve communities across Korea, from east to west and from the mainland to future island airports, while keeping operations economical and environmentally responsible.”
ATR has long identified Korea as a market with significant untapped potential for regional aviation, forecasting a fleet of 25–30 ATR 72 aircraft in the country within the coming years. SUM Air’s decision reinforces this outlook and reflects growing confidence in ATR’s state-of-the-art turboprop technology as the right solution for Korea’s geography and route structure.
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