India’s regional aviation needs broad policy tailwinds, says ATR chief

India may have a large untapped market for regional air travel, but turning that demand into a viable airline business will require more than government subsidies. Franco-Italian firm ATR, world’s largest maker of small commercial aircraft, says India needs financially viable regional airlines, backed by more airports, lower airport costs and taxes, and incentives beyond the government’s flagship Udan (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme, if it is to turn the vast market for travel between smaller cities into a sustainable aviation business.