SUM Air, a regional carrier based in South Korea, has opened its wallet to purchase new ATR Aircraft.
The 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 during the France–Korea bilateral economic forum held in Seoul, attended by the French President.
SUM Air commenced commercial operations in March 2026 with a new leased ATR 72-600 from Avation (registered as HL5264). 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. ;
SUM Air’s missions fit nicely into the ATR offerings, with the airline aiming 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.
In Quotes
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.”
Inroads into South Korea
Not many of the ATR fleet are based in South Korea, with ATR noting that there is potential for a fleet to be based in the region, given the underserved communities that exist.
And ATR is hoping to make inroads, with the company forecasting it could support between 25 and 30 aircraft in the region, filling in those regional gaps.
For SUM Air, it’s taken time to start from scratch and begin its deployment, with a founding in 2022, working through to the first route launch between Seoul-Gimpo and Sacheon (operating four times a day), with plans to operate to Ulsan and Ulleungdo.
We’ll see whether the market can support those routes and whether SUM Air can execute its planned growth.
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