SUM Air takes delivery of its first ATR 72-600

Avation PLC delivered the first ATR 72-600 to SUM Air on December 29 in South Korea. The regional turboprop is subject to a 12-year lease agreement between the lessor and the carrier.

“We are pleased to purchase this aircraft, which is currently unencumbered and which has been placed on lease with a new airline customer, SUM Air, for a twelve-year lease. SUM Air is our first customer in South Korea; we look forward to a long and successful business relationship with the airline,” said Jeff Chatfield, Executive Chairman of Avation PLC.

SUM Air received its Air Carrier License for small aircraft operations from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on February 17, 2025. The airline intends to launch inaugural services on routes connecting Gimpo to Pohang/Gyeongju–Jeju and Gimpo to Sacheon–Jeju.

The delivered ATR 72-600 is part of a batch of ten aircraft ordered by Avation in 2024 through exercised purchase rights with ATR.

SUM Air is the first operator to benefit from revised Korean regulations enacted in 2024 that expanded the maximum seat capacity for small aircraft operations from 50 to 80. The regulatory change enabled new entrants in the regional sector.

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