FLY91 Takes to the Skies with Inaugural Goa-Lakshadweep Flight

Fly91, a new regional airline based in India, is set to commence operations on March 18 with its inaugural flight connecting Goa to Bengaluru and Hyderabad. The company, which received its air operator permit from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on March 6, is also planning to expand its services to Lakshadweep from April. Initially operating with two ATR 72-600 aircraft, Fly91 aims to grow its fleet to six aircraft within six months and eventually to around 35 planes over the next five years.

The airline is supported by notable investors including private equity firm Convergent Finance and veteran investor Ramesh Damani. Manoj Chacko, an aviation industry veteran, leads the company and aims to focus on enhancing connectivity between Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. With a strategy to connect 13 city pairs initially, the airline has ambitious plans to cover 50 city pairs and establish six bases within five years. Fly91 is set to operate under the UDAN scheme and Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS), aiming to provide last-mile connectivity and serve both tourists and local populations, rather than competing directly with existing carriers. Union Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has lauded the launch, indicating the carrier's well-capitalized position and its potential role in improving regional air travel infrastructure.