GOA- FLY91 (IC), India’s newest regional airline, aims to triple its fleet by the end of fiscal year 2025.
The carrier plans to increase its ATR aircraft from two to six, bolstering its presence in the regional aviation market.
FLY91 Fleet Update
Manoj Chacko, Managing Director and CEO of Fly91 revealed the expansion plans in an exclusive interview with CNBC-TV18. The airline currently operates from its Goa base, serving seven cities with 10 route pairs.
“We will induct two more aircraft in the next couple of months,” Chacko stated. “By the end of the financial year, we expect to have six aircraft in the fleet.”
This fleet expansion will enable Fly91 to increase flight frequencies and strengthen its network. The airline’s business model centers on these six aircraft, focusing on enhancing connectivity between its served destinations.
Chacko praised the government’s UDAN scheme, which promotes regional air connectivity. He emphasized its crucial role in supporting startups in the capital-intensive aviation sector.
However, Chacko suggested improvements, urging the government to work with Indian banks to better understand aircraft as assets, potentially easing financial challenges for regional operators.
Fuel-efficient Aircraft
Despite industry-wide concerns about high aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices, Fly91 remains unperturbed. Chacko attributes this to the fuel efficiency of their ATR aircraft.
Instead, he highlighted the need for improved access to working capital and funding from Indian banks as a more pressing challenge for regional aviation growth.
Fly91 maintains a laser focus on its current business model. Chacko firmly stated the airline has no plans to diversify into seaplanes or advanced air mobility. “We are committed to the ATR 72-600 aircraft,” he said, emphasizing the importance of a single aircraft type for operational success.
Financially, Fly91 appears stable. Chacko confirmed the airline has no immediate plans to raise additional funds beyond the $25 million secured a year ago during its launch.
ATR India Plans
Aviation industry leaders and government officials gathered in New Delhi this week to discuss strategies for expanding India’s regional air connectivity. The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the Ministry of Civil Aviation organized the event, which focused on maximizing the country’s untapped aviation market.
Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu attended the round-table discussion, highlighting the government’s commitment to developing regional air travel. ATR’s Senior Vice President of Commercial, Alexis Vidal, emphasized the critical role of regional aviation in meeting Indian communities’ travel needs.
Vidal advocated for increased point-to-point connections between secondary and tertiary cities, aligning with the government’s UDAN initiative to boost regional air connectivity. He presented key data underscoring the immense potential for growth in India’s regional aviation sector.
The discussion revealed that 90% of intercity trips across all modes of transport, totaling 90 million trips per week, fall within the 100-400 nautical mile range. This statistic emphasizes the crucial nature of regional travel to Indian mobility needs.
Currently, air travel accounts for only 3% of trips within this distance range, indicating significant room for expansion. Industry experts estimate an untapped potential of 80 million additional air passengers annually, achievable by increasing flight frequencies on existing routes and establishing new air connections.
The event also addressed infrastructure challenges. Data shows that 40% of intercity trips originate from areas lacking active airports, presenting a clear opportunity for expanding air infrastructure across the country.
Vidal stressed the importance of developing point-to-point links between smaller cities to support the UDAN scheme effectively. This approach aims to improve regional connectivity and make air travel accessible to a broader segment of the Indian population.
India’s aviation sector experiences rapid growth, driven by first-time air travelers seeking faster and more comfortable alternatives to trains and buses.
The appeal of ATR aircraft in India is evident in the country’s fleet composition. India currently stands as ATR’s second-largest market globally, with 70 ATR aircraft in operation. Three major carriers – IndiGo (6E), Alliance Air (9I), and Fly91 – utilize these turboprops to serve regional routes and connect smaller cities.
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