FLY91 Fleet Grows as India Clears 3 New Airlines, Boosting Competition

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AuthorAarav Shah|Published at:
FLY91 Fleet Grows as India Clears 3 New Airlines, Boosting Competition
Overview

Regional carrier FLY91 is adding two ATR 72-600 aircraft to boost its fleet to six, enabling expansion to new destinations. This comes as the Indian government grants approvals for three new domestic airlines, signaling a push to break the market duopoly currently held by IndiGo and Air India Group. The move aims to widen participation in one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets.

FLY91 is set to expand its operational footprint with the addition of two new ATR 72-600 aircraft. The regional carrier has leased these planes from Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE), a move that will increase its fleet to six. Deliveries of the brand-new turboprops are expected later this month from ATR's facility in France.

The induction of these aircraft will not only boost capacity and flight frequencies on FLY91's existing routes but also introduce new destinations. Passengers can anticipate new services to Vijayawada and Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh, Nanded in Maharashtra, Hubballi in Karnataka, and Dabolim in Goa. Manoj Chacko, CEO and MD of FLY91, stated this transaction "reinforces our commitment to building a resilient and scalable regional airline through measured growth," emphasizing the ATR 72-600's efficiency for regional routes.

This expansion by FLY91 follows closely on the heels of the Union civil aviation ministry granting 'no-objection certificates' to two fresh domestic airlines, Al Hind Air and FlyExpress. Additionally, Uttar Pradesh-based Shankh Air, which already holds an NOC, is slated to begin operations in 2026. These approvals underscore a renewed governmental effort to foster greater competition within India's aviation sector.

India's domestic aviation market is one of the world's fastest-growing but is heavily concentrated. Currently, only nine scheduled domestic airlines are operational, a number that recently saw a dip. IndiGo and the Air India Group collectively dominate over 90% of the market share, with IndiGo alone holding more than 65%. Concerns about this concentration were amplified by past disruptions, highlighting the risks of over-reliance on a few carriers.

Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu has reiterated the policy objective of encouraging new airlines, citing schemes like UDAN that support regional carriers. The introduction of new players aims to break this duopoly and enhance connectivity, particularly to underserved routes, despite the sector's history of volatility marked by past failures such as Jet Airways and Go First.

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