Founder & CEO of Flamingo Aerospace Subhakar Pappula on board Russian United Aircraft Corporation’s (UAC) Ilyushin IL-114-300 on static display at Wings India 2026 at Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad
| Photo Credit:
SIDDHANT THAKUR
Flamingo Aerospace and United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) signed a purchase agreement for six 68-seater IL-114-300 regional aircraft at the on-going India Wings 2026 here.
The partnership will eventually result in complete manufacturing of the aircraft in India thereby boosting the local supply chain and boosting employment across the aviation sector.
As part of the agreement, UAC has provided Flamingo Aerospace with a cooperation framework, including a detailed roadmap for developing aviation capabilities in India.
The pact enables Flamingo Aerospace to undertake phased industrial activities such as aircraft assembly, customisation, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), and preparation for manufacturing and infrastructure development.
“United Aircraft Corporation stands as our strategic cornerstone partner in this mission, delivering cutting-edge aircraft, proprietary technologies, and localised manufacturing expertise to the Indian market,’’ Subhakar Pappula, Founder & CEO, Flamingo Aerospace, said in a release.
Vadim Badekha, CEO, United Aircraft Corporation, said: “The Indian air travel market is growing at the fastest rate in the world. Passenger numbers are growing annually by up to 11 per cent India is the world’s third-largest air travel market. This creates the preconditions for the commercial success of our regional aircraft in the local market, which we confirmed today by signing the first contract for the delivery of Il-114-300 aircraft with Flamingo Aerospace.”
Expansion plan
“While the signed framework agreement covers the delivery of six aircraft starting in 2028, we plan to expand our cooperation with Flamingo Aerospace to include new mutually beneficial collaborations in the future,’’ he added.
The IL-114-300 is a 68-seater regional turboprop aircraft designed for short- to medium-haul operations, offering fuel efficiency, operational flexibility, and suitability for India’s diverse regional connectivity needs, according to a release.
Published on January 30, 2026
