FLY91, India's newest airline hits the skies

March 18, 7:55 AM marked an important milestone for India's youngest aviation entrant FLY91. The regional carrier operated its first flight from Goa’s Manohar International Airport to Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. Its second flight flew from Sindhudurg to Bengaluru on the same day.

The Goa-based airline has launched an all-inclusive inaugural fare of ₹1,991 across sectors and will offer change or cancellation at a fee of ₹499. Passengers can buy snacks and beverages onboard priced at ₹100 per item.

The pure play regional airline will operate flights to Goa, Bengaluru, Sindhudurg and Hyderabad and then do Agatti, Jalgaon and Pune in April. The airline has been allocated its first set of routes under the government's Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) UDAN.

Founded by the erstwhile Kingfisher Airlines' former senior executive Manoj Chacko, FLY91 had received its Air Operator Certificate on March 6.

"This inaugural flight is not just about reaching a destination; it's about taking flight with the dreams and aspirations of a nation.” said FLY91's MD & CEO Manoj Chacko.

The airline currently has two ATR 72-600 aircraft with four more aircraft expected in the coming months.

At a time when many Indian carriers are struggling to stay afloat, FLY91 has clear strategy which is to have a fleet of ATRs that will offer last mile connectivity to passengers with short haul flights that are within the radius of 45-90 minutes.

"We will definitely fly one state to another but are we going to go into an Airbus or Boeing? The answer is No," Manoj Chacko had told CNBC-TV18 in April 2023.