Air TransportStar Air eyes first direct Embraer order as it targets 50 aircraft by 2030
Star Air, currently India’s largest regional airline, is considering a substantial Embraer aircraft order for next year as it looks to expand its operations beyond its present fleet of 11 aircraft, all from the Brazilian manufacturer.
The carrier began operations in January 2019 and has grown during the pandemic, leveraging India’s UDAN government subsidy program. Star Air aims to increase its fleet to 50 aircraft by 2030, supporting a network that now includes 31 cities.
“In our fleet current, four aircraft are owned and the rest are leased,” said Managing Director Shrenik Ghodawat, from the Sanjay Ghodawat Group, parent company of the airline, to The Times of India.
According to Ghodawat, the airline operates 56 daily flights, with 65% of these falling under the UDAN scheme. “Today we have 56 daily flights, with 65% being UDAN, in our network of 31 cities,” he said.
The Bengaluru-based carrier has four 50-seat ERJ-145s and seven E175s. These jets began arriving on lease in 2023 in a two-class configuration (12+64), but in 2025 four aircraft with 88 seats in a single class were received.
However, Ghodawat did not specify which aircraft are being evaluated at Embraer. Besides the already operated E175s, other alternatives include the E190-E2 for approximately 110 passengers, and the E195-E2, with up to 146 seats.
The E2 models, however, are more expensive, although they offer a lower operating cost per seat. Embraer has not yet secured an order from Indian airlines, a situation that Star Air could also take advantage of.
Star Air recently completed the first tranche of a funding round. The company has outlined plans to develop proprietary facilities for maintenance, repair, and crew training to support its growth trajectory.
The Indian government has indicated intentions to extend the UDAN scheme to nearby international routes. Star Air plans to operate 20 aircraft by April 2028, which would enable the launch of international flights under these new provisions.
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