Sum Air to acquire second ATR turboprop aircraft
Sum Air’s first ATR 72-600 is seen at ATR’s hangar in Toulouse, France, in this undated photo. Courtesy of Sum Air
Sum Air Co., a wholly owned unit of South Korean mobility platform startup Mobility As a Freedom (MAAF), said Sunday it will acquire an additional turboprop aircraft from European manufacturer ATR to expand its fleet.
The company said it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with ATR in Seoul to introduce a second ATR 72-600 aircraft for routes serving domestic islands, including Ulleung off South Korea's east coast, Baengnyeong near the western sea border with North Korea, and Heuksan off the country's southwest coast.
Sum Air received its first ATR 72-600 in January and launched service on the Gimpo-Sacheon route in March. Sacheon is home to Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), South Korea's sole aircraft manufacturer. The ATR 72-600 is the world's bestselling turboprop aircraft.
The aircraft's fuel efficiency and cost competitiveness make it suitable for low-demand routes while supporting more sustainable operations. Its addition will enable Sum Air to enhance connectivity to remote regions while meeting environmental goals, ATR Chief Executive Nathalie Tarnaud Laude said.
ATR, a 50:50 joint venture set up in 1981 between France's Airbus and Italy's Leonardo, is headquartered in Toulouse, France, and specializes in turboprop aircraft designed for short-haul travel.
The company aims to sell 25 turboprop aircraft in South Korea by 2030, as the country plans to open airports on Ulleung, Baengnyeong and Heuksan islands in the coming years.