Fly91

The airline was founded on 9 January 2023 by former aviation veterans, Harsha Raghavan, who was the former head of Fairfax India, and Manoj Chacko, who was the former vice-executive of Mumbai-based WNS Global Services. They were also a part of Kingfisher Airlines that ceased operations in October 2012 due to bankruptcy.{{cite news|last=Kelkar|first=Nachiket|title=Fly91, new airline promoted by former Kingfisher Airlines exec, plans to take off by Dec 2023|url=https://www.theweek.in/news/biz-tech/2023/01/09/fly91-new-airline-promoted-by-former-kingfisher-airlines-exec-plans-to-take-off-by-dec-2023.html|work=The Week|date=9 January 2023|access-date=12 March 2024|language=en}} Before announcing the formation of the airline, on 8 December 2021, Harsha Raghavan, the company's as well as the current founder and chairman of the airline, who also created Convergent Finance LLP in 2018, in collaboration with Manoj Chacko's WNS Global Services, incorporated the companies to form 'Just Udo Aviation Private Limited'. They set up its headquarters at Ribandar near the capital of Goa, Panaji, and its registered office in Mumbai. It made its base at Manohar International Airport at Mopa in North Goa district, to promote and facilitate tourism in the state. The airline applied to the Ministry of Civil Aviation for the No Objection Certificate (NOC) to launch scheduled domestic services in the same month. The Ministry of Civil Aviation granted the NOC to the airline in April 2023.{{cite news|title=Fly91 gets Ministry of Civil Aviation's no objection certificate to start flights|url=https://www.zeebiz.com/economy-infra/aviation/news-fly91-gets-ministry-of-civil-aviations-no-objection-certificate-to-start-flights-232422|work=Zee Business|date=26 April 2023|access-date=13 March 2024|language=en}} The airline is headed with an initial {{INRConvert|200|c}} investment.{{cite news|title=New regional airline 'Fly91' to take wings with initial investment of INR 200cr|url=https://travelbizmonitor.com/new-regional-airline-fly91-to-take-wings-with-initial-investment-of-inr-200cr/|work=Travel Biz Monitor|date=10 January 2023|access-date=13 March 2024|language=en}} In June 2023, the airline revealed its logo and livery, based on the scenic and natural environment of Goa, and planned to begin operations by the end of 2023.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}} On 26 July 2023, the airline, along with numerous others, received slots from the Ministry of Civil Aviation to begin flights under the government's UDAN Scheme to regional destinations, like Jalgaon, Kolhapur, Solapur, Nanded, Sindhudurg, Lakshadweep and bigger cities like Hyderabad, Pune and Bengaluru.{{cite news|title=Newest airline FLY91 gets routes under UDAN scheme|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/fly91-gets-udan-routes/articleshow/102114841.cms|work=The Economic Times|date=26 July 2023|access-date=13 March 2024|language=en}}

The airline received its first aircraft, an ATR-72, on 30 January 2024. The second aircraft was delivered on 28 February 2024. The airline began proving flights from its base at Manohar International Airport to Bengaluru with its aircraft on 2 March 2024 to get the Air Operator's Certificate (AOC), which is necessary for an airline to begin commercial operations.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}} It adopted the IATA code "IC", which was the code for Indian Airlines that closed down in 2011.{{cite news|title=Fly91: Malayali's airline company to start service soon|url=https://www.onmanorama.com/travel/travel-news/2024/02/29/fly-91-airline-company-manoj-chacko-thrissur-test-flying-successful.amp.html|work=Onmanorama|date=21 January 2023|access-date=18 February 2024|language=en}} On 6 March 2024, the AOC was granted to it by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).{{cite news|last1=Mujawar|first1=Madeeha|last2=Anand|first2=Daanish|title=Fly91 gets AOC, gears up to start commercial operations|url=https://www.cnbctv18.com/aviation/dgca-grants-air-operator-certificate-aoc-to-fly91-new-regional-airline-19215221.htm|work=CNBC TV18|date=6 March 2024|access-date=13 March 2024|language=en}} On 12 March 2024, after the first inaugural flight service with passengers from Goa to Lakshadweep was operated by the airline, it announced that it will begin regular flights from its base at Manohar International Airport, Goa and Sindhudurg to Bengaluru and Hyderabad from 18 March 2024.{{cite news|last=Upadhyay|first=Deepak|title=Goa-based FLY91 takes off for Lakshadweep on inaugural flight, commercial services to start from THIS date|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/goabased-fly91-takes-off-for-lakshadweep-on-inaugural-flight-commercial-services-to-start-from-this-date-11710242453120.html|work=Mint|date=21 January 2023|access-date=18 February 2024|language=en}} Hence, it began operations on the routes on 18 March, and added Lakshadweep and Jalgaon to its destinations from 18 April 2024.{{cite news|title=Goa gets direct connection to Lakshadweep's Agatti|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/goa-gets-direct-connection-to-lakshadweeps-agatti/articleshow/109226438.cms|work=The Times of India|date=12 April 2024|access-date=19 April 2024|language=en}}

Fly91, stylised as FLY91, is the brand name for Just Udo Aviation Private Limited.{{cite web|title=FLY91 – Bharat Unbound|url=https://fly91.in/|website=Fly91|access-date=13 March 2024}} The company is headquartered in Ribandar near Panaji in South Goa district, Goa, India, has its registered office in Mumbai and has its operating base at Manohar International Airport in Mopa, North Goa district. Its chairman and founder is Harsha Raghavan and its MD and CEO is Manoj Chacko. The airline has been funded with {{INRConvert|200|c}} equity to begin operations. As of April 2024, the airline has 200 employees, and will recruit 25 employees for every aircraft upon deliveries, thereby taking the overall number to 350 employees by the end of 2024. It currently has two leased ATR-72 aircraft, and will have a total of six aircraft by the end of 2024.{{cite news|title=FLY91 set to transform regional air travel, expects to have 350 staff in first year of operations|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/business/airlines-aviation-fly91-set-to-transform-regional-air-travel-expects-to-have-350-staff-in-first-year-of-operations-3427770/|work=The Financial Express|date=17 March 2024|access-date=19 April 2024|language=en}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/airline/F91|title=Fly91|website=ch-aviation|access-date=19 April 2024}}

File:Overhaul.jpg Belonging to FLY91 ]]

The airline's logo and livery feature pastel blue and yellow colours, which are inspired by the scenic, peaceful and serene environment of the Arabian Sea, the beaches of Goa and the Western Ghats. Its tagline Bharat Unbound is shown on the rear side of the fuselage, giving a description of the airline's focus on connectivity, tourism and punctuality. The livery also features a black cockpit mask surrounding the windows of the cockpit's exterior, which airlines like Air Canada use to enhance the look of their aircraft. On the tail, the airline's name is featured in white captions in a pastel blue surface. The name "Fly91" comes from India's country dialling code "+91".{{cite news|last=Aashu|title=Indian startup airline Fly91 reveals its livery|url=https://timesofaviation.com/indian-startup-airline-fly91-reveals-its-livery/|work=Times of Aviation|date=10 August 2023|access-date=12 March 2024|language=en}}

The airline began operations from 18 March 2024 from its base at Manohar International Airport in Mopa, Goa. As of May 2024, it operates to the following destinations:{{cite news|title=Regional airline FLY91 to start commercial flights from March 18 – Details inside|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/business/airlines-aviation-regional-airline-fly91-to-start-commercial-flights-from-march-18-details-inside-3422548/|work=The Financial Express|date=12 March 2024|access-date=12 March 2024|language=en}}

On 12 March 2024, after the airline announced it would begin operations from 18 March 2024, the MD and CEO of the airline, Manoj Chacko, announced that in the first four months, the airline would start flights from Sindhudurg to Hyderabad and Bengaluru from 18 March 2024, followed by flights to Agatti and Jalgaon from April 2024. Then, by 2025, it will fly to at least 12 cities, and in the next five years, the airline plans to fly to at least 50 cities from six bases, as part of its focus on connectivity and facilitating the next 100 million air passengers in India.{{cite news|title=FLY91 to start flights to Lakshadweep from April|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/business/aviation/fly91-flights-lakshadweep-april-9210486/|work=The Indian Express|date=12 March 2024|access-date=12 March 2024|language=en}}

As of April 2024, the airline consists of the following aircraft:

On 12 March 2024, after the airline announced it would begin operations from 18 March 2024, the MD and CEO of the airline, Manoj Chacko, announced that it will have a fleet of six aircraft by the next four months. The current fleet has a capacity to handle 70-72 passengers at one time, but it could be extended to 76 in the near future. Then, in the next five years, the airline will add 6-7 aircraft per year, and will have a total of 30-35 aircraft.{{cite news|title=Goa-based regional airline FLY91 to start commercial services from March 18|url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/goa-based-regional-airline-fly91-to-start-commercial-services-from-march-18-12444061.html|quote=At a briefing at the Mopa airport, FLY91 MD and CEO Manoj Chacko said the airline will have a total of six ATR 72-600 planes in six months. He added that FLY91 currently has two 70-seater ATRs, with the fleet set to expand to six planes within four months. "Our plan is to induct 6-7 ATRs annually. Mopa will serve as our initial base, with Fly 91 aiming to establish six bases, operate 35 planes, and connect 50 city pairs over the next five years," Chacko said.|work=Moneycontrol|date=21 January 2023|access-date=18 February 2024|language=en}}

The airline, after beginning operations, covers destinations in its network ranging from a travel time of 1-1.5 hours. It offers buy-on-board service for snacks and beverages, with seat selection charges to be applicable between five and six rows out of 18 rows. It also offers more facilities to enhance passenger experience upon its expansion as a last-mile carrier for regional connectivity, similar to other ATR-72 operators, like IndiGo and Alliance Air. It provides privileges for physically challenged passengers, like wheelchairs, emergency and medical facilities and allows pets to be carried on board.{{cite news|last=Sinha|first=Saurabh|title=Agatti ahoy: Manoj Chacko's regional carrier, Fly 91 takes off today|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/agatti-ahoy-manoj-chackos-regional-carrier-fly-91-takes-off-today/articleshow/108425936.cms|quote=The average flight duration for Fly 91 routes will range from 55 to 90 minutes. "We will offer buy-on-board service for snacks and beverages, with seat selection charges applicable to five to six rows out of the 18," he added. IndiGo operates ATRs, and following Air India's divestment, Alliance Air remains the only state-owned fixed-wing airline. "I aim to provide last-mile connectivity rather than compete with anyone, but to coexist," Chacko asserted.|work=The Times of India|date=12 March 2024|access-date=14 March 2024|language=en}}{{cite news|title=Forms and Downloads|url=https://fly91.in/forms-and-downloads|website=Fly91|access-date=19 April 2024}}{{cite news|title=Travel with Pet|url=https://support.fly91.in/portal/en/kb/articles/travel-with-pet|website=Fly91|access-date=19 April 2024|language=en}}

• List of airlines of India
• List of airports in India
• Aviation in India
• UDAN Scheme
• Tourism in Goa
• Tourism in India
• Transport in India

{{reflist}}

• {{official website|https://fly91.in/}}

{{Portalbar|India|Aviation|Transport|Companies}}

{{Airlines of India}}

Category:Airlines of India

Category:Airlines established in 2023

Category:Indian companies established in 2023

Category:Indian companies established in 2018