Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) has entered long-term lease agreements with Air India subsidiary Alliance Air for ten ATR 72-600 aircraft.

To be delivered throughout the year, the aircraft will help Alliance to grow its network.

A part of the Indian Government’s focus on local air access under the regional connectivity scheme (RCS), the planes will also allow the airline to cater to underserved or unserved airports across the country.

Alliance Air is among the five airlines selected to provide services under RCS.

DAE CEO Firoz Tarapore said: “DAE commends India’s Government for introducing the RCS, which should further promote regional growth and make flying affordable for the masses.”

The company currently has 57 owned and committed ATR72-600 aircraft in its fleet, following its acquisition of GE Capital Aviation Services’ (GECAS) entire portfolio of ATR 72-600 planes.

“DAE commends India’s Government for introducing the RCS, which should further promote regional growth and make flying affordable for the masses.”

DAE also has options to purchase 20 additional aircraft of the same type from ATR.

The acquisition of GECAS’s ATR 72-600 aircraft portfolio has brought DAE’s total fleet to 126 owned, managed and committed aircraft.

The company currently serves 32 airlines worldwide.