Indian regional carrier Star Air is currently preparing to undergo a major fleet expansion as it considers placing a massive order for Embraer regional jets in 2026, a deal which would be one of the highest-profile direct deals between the Brazilian manufacturer and an Indian airline. The carrier began operations in 2019 with a single second-hand Embraer aircraft.

Since then, the airline, which is based out of Kolhapur, has grown to a fleet of around 11 jets today by blending leases and purchases. Under this plan, Star Air aims to build a dynamic fleet of around 50 fixed and rotary-wing aircraft by 2030 in order to allow it to serve underserved regional routes all across India. This move will mark a turning point for regional aviation in India while cementing Embraer’s position within the Indian market.

An Attractive Opportunity For A Growing Airline

This Star Air order signals the airline’s impressive ambition, with the carrier ready to scale up rapidly from 11 to potentially 50 aircraft by the time 2030 comes around. This planned acquisition would be the first major Embraer deal from an Indian airline, one that offers the manufacturer a foothold in India’s growing regional aviation market, according to reports from The Times of India.

Star Air’s growth had been underpinned by a government-backed regional connectivity scheme, one which today funds around 65% of the carrier’s 56 different daily flights. Much like in the United States, a large amount of regional aviation is supported financially by the national government. The airline itself has just completed a Series B funding round, one which will help support fleet expansion, maintenance, training infrastructure, and the carrier’s broader ambitions across the board.

A Logical Next Step For An Airline That Has Quietly Become India’s Regional Workhorse

Star Air is increasingly becoming a workhorse for the Indian nation when it comes to the difficult-to-serve regional routes that are becoming a larger part of the Indian air travel landscape. For this airline, which currently operates with a relatively limited fleet, a natural next step would be expanding its fleet.

Since launching operations in 2019, the airline has used Embraer E-Jets to connect underserved city pairs under the government support scheme, often with the carrier flying thin routes that are incapable of justifying larger aircraft. Major airlines like IndiGo and Air India, which operate with limited metal smaller than the Boeing 737 or the Airbus A320, will stay far away from these kinds of routes.

Star Air was the first Indian carrier to operate the Embraer E175, giving it an early lead when it came to right-sizing capacity and offering a more comfortable cabin than the typical turboprops that served the Indian market. A multi-dozen aircraft deal would help the airline standardize its fleet further, cut unit costs through scale, and allow more frequencies on trunk regional markets. This also signals confidence that India’s tier-2 and tier-3 demand will continue to grow.

What Would Such An Order Mean For Embraer?

For Brazilian manufacturer Embraer, this kind of order could unlock new kinds of possibilities. The order would give the manufacturer extra exposure to the Indian market, after years in which the company has had to sit and watch rivals Boeing and Airbus nominate narrowbody sales on the subcontinent. A confirmed deal would also showcase the capabilities of the E-Jet regional aircraft family, demonstrating that it can be a proven solution for India’s regional connectivity challenge.

The aircraft has range and speed advantages over other models, such as the ATR and the De Havilland Dash 8 turboprop. That, in turn, could encourage other carriers to consider 76- to 110-seat regional jets for these new kinds of routes, rather than jumping directly into larger single-aisle economics.

The partnership would also expand training, maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO), and other parts support systems in India, a move that would help significantly improve operating economics in the future for Embraer. In a market that is forecast to need thousands of new aircraft over the next two decades, even a 50-jet order would be strategically transformational for the manufacturer, which has been consistently in search of sources of market growth.