| |||||||
Founded | 9 January 2023[3] | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Commenced operations | 18 March 2024[4] | ||||||
Operating bases | Manohar International Airport (Goa) | ||||||
Fleet size | 2[5] | ||||||
Destinations | 4[6] | ||||||
Parent company | Just Udo Aviation Pvt. Ltd. | ||||||
Headquarters | Alcon House, Kadamba Plateau Road, Ribandar, South Goa district, Goa, India[7] | ||||||
Key people | Harsha Raghavan, Chairman, founder Manoj Chacko MD, CEO[8] | ||||||
Employees | 200[9] | ||||||
Website | fly91 |
Just Udo Aviation Private Limited, doing business as Fly91 (stylised as FLY91),[10] is an Indian low-cost regional airline headquartered in Ribandar, Goa, India. It will operate from its base at Manohar International Airport in Mopa, North Goa district, with a fleet of two ATR-72 aircraft, to tier-2 and 3 cities of India.[11] It was founded in January 2023 by former aviation veterans of Kingfisher Airlines, Harsha Raghavan and Manoj Chacko, along with others. It will begin commercial operations from 18 March 2024 to Bangalore and Hyderabad from its base at Goa and Sindhudurg, with flights to Lakshadweep and other regional cities from April 2024.[7][8][12][13]
History
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 WNS Global Services. They were also a part of Kingfisher Airlines that ceased operations in October 2012 due to bankruptcy. Harsha Raghavan, the founder and chairman of the airline, formed Convergent Finance LLP, in collaboration with Manoj Chacko's WNS Global Services. Both of them merged the companies to form 'Just Udo Aviation Private Limited', and set up their headquarters and registered office at Ribandar near the capital of Goa, Panaji, and in Mumbai. It made its base at Manohar International Airport at Mopa in North Goa district to promote and facilitate tourism in the state.[3][8][7] 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.[14] The airline is headed with an intial ₹200 crore (US$25 million) investment.[15] 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.[16] 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, Pune, Nanded, Sindhudurg, Lakshadweep and bigger cities like Hyderabad and Bengaluru.[17] The airline received its first aircraft, an ATR-72, on 30 January 2024. The second aircraft was delivered on 28 February 2024.[5][18] 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. It adopted the IATA code "IC", which was the code for Indian Airlines that closed down in 2011.[19][20] On 6 March 2024, the AOC was granted to it by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).[21] 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. It will begin flights to Lakshadweep and other regional cities from April 2024.[12][13]
Corporate affairs
Fly91, stylised as FLY91, is the brand name for Just Udo Aviation Private Limited.[22] 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.[7] Its chairman and founder is Harsha Raghavan and its MD and CEO is Manoj Chacko.[8] The airline has been funded with ₹200 crore (US$25 million) equity to begin operations.[15] As of March 2024, the airline has 200 employees, and will recruit 25 employees for every aircraft upon deliveries. It currently has two leased ATR-72 aircraft, with plans to have one more and a total of six aircraft by the end of 2024 and 2025, respectively.[9][2]
Logo and livery
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".[16][23]
Destinations
The airline will begin operations from 18 March 2024 from its base at Manohar International Airport in Mopa, Goa. It will operate to the following destinations:[4][6]
State | City | Airport | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Goa | Manohar International Airport | Hub | [12] | |
Karnataka | Bangalore | Kempegowda International Airport | begins 18 March 2024 | |
Maharashtra | Sindhudurg | Sindhudurg Airport | begins 18 March 2024 | |
Telangana | Hyderabad | Rajiv Gandhi International Airport | begins 18 March 2024 |
Network development
On 12 March 2024, after the airline announced to begin operations from 18 March 2024, the MD and CEO of the airline, Manoj Chacko, announced that in the first four months, the airline plans to start flights from Sindhudurg to Hyderabad and Bengaluru from 18 March 2024, followed by flights to Agatti and Jalgaon from April 2024. Then, in the next five years, the airline plans to fly to at least 50 cities, as part of its focus on connectivity and facilitating the next 100 million air passengers in India.[13]
Fleet
Current fleet
As of February 2024, the airline consisted of the following aircraft:[2]
Aircraft | In service | Orders | Passengers | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ATR 72-600 | 2 | 4 | 72 | [5][18] | ||
Total | 2 | 4 |
Fleet development
On 12 March 2024, after the airline announced to begin operations from 18 March 2024, the MD and CEO of the airline, Manoj Chacko, announced that it will have a fleet of three to four aircraft by the end of 2024, and a total of six by 2025. Then, in the next five years, the airline plans to have 30-35 aircraft, along with a possible plan for introducing narrowbody aircraft like the Airbus A320 in its fleet.[12]
See also
- List of airlines of India
- List of airports in India
- Aviation in India
- UDAN Scheme
- Tourism in Goa
- Tourism in India
- Transport in India
References
- ^ Joshi, Ameya (2 March 2024). "Proving flights: What Fly91 and other new airlines must do to get a flying permit". The Hindustan Times. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- ^ a b c "Fly91". ch-aviation. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- ^ a b Kelkar, Nachiket (9 January 2023). "Fly91, new airline promoted by former Kingfisher Airlines exec, plans to take off by Dec 2023". The Week. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- ^ a b "Regional airline FLY91 to start commercial flights from March 18 – Details inside". The Financial Express. 12 March 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- ^ a b c "India's Fly91 accepts first ATR72-600 ahead of start". ch.aviation. 30 January 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- ^ a b "Flight Schedule" (PDF). Fly91. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Contact us". Fly91. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Leadership team". Fly91. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- ^ a b "FLY91 to launch on Monday with Goa-Bengaluru flight". The Hindu BusinessLine. 12 March 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
We have 200 employees and will recruit 25 employees for every additional aircraft," Chacko said.
- ^ "Fly91 Airline Profile". CAPA. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- ^ Saha, Poulomi (26 April 2023). "We want to be a last mile carrier: Fly91 CEO Manoj Chacko after aviation ministry's nod – Exclusive". India Today. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Fly91 announces commencement of flight operations from March 18". The Hindu. 12 March 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- ^ a b c "FLY91 to start flights to Lakshadweep from April". The Indian Express. 12 March 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- ^ "Fly91 gets Ministry of Civil Aviation's no objection certificate to start flights". Zee Business. 26 April 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
- ^ a b "New regional airline 'Fly91' to take wings with initial investment of INR 200cr". Travel Biz Monitor. 10 January 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
- ^ a b Joshi, Gaurav (5 June 2023). "Airline Startup Of The Week: India's FLY91 Reveals First Look". Simple Flying. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
- ^ "Newest airline FLY91 gets routes under UDAN scheme". The Economic Times. 26 July 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
- ^ a b "VT-FIB FLY91 ATR 72". Planespotters.net. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
- ^ "Fly91: Malayali's airline company to start service soon". Onmanorama. 21 January 2023. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
- ^ Bhatta, Karan (3 March 2024). "New Indian Airline Fly91 Begins Flights With ATR-72 Aircraft". Simple Flying. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
- ^ Mujawar, Madeeha; Anand, Daanish (6 March 2024). "Fly91 gets AOC, gears up to start commercial operations". CNBC TV18. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
- ^ "FLY91 – Bharat Unbound". Fly91. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
- ^ Aashu (10 August 2023). "Indian startup airline Fly91 reveals its livery". Times of Aviation. Retrieved 12 March 2024.