SUM Air Orders Up to Eight ATR 72-600s During Macron’s Seoul Visit

Overview

• SUM Air signed a 4+4 ATR 72-600 agreement Friday during French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Seoul, with deliveries starting in 2028.
• The new carrier began scheduled flights in March 2026 using a leased ATR 72-600 from Avation, launching the Seoul Gimpo–Sacheon (Jinju) route.
• SUM Air says the aircraft will serve future island airports such as Ulleungdo, Heuksando, and Baengnyeongdo, which plan 1,200-meter runways suited to turboprops.
• A 2024 rule change in South Korea raised the small-aircraft seat cap to 80 seats, clearing the way for 72-seat ATR 72-600 operations and enabling SUM Air’s model.
• The airline plans near-term growth with more leased ATRs in 2026 and longer-term links to Japan and China, as ATR projects demand for 25–30 turboprops in Korea.