Tag: civil aviation India

Business

FLY91 Leases Two Aircraft from TrueNoord to Accelerate Regional Expansion

Swara Bodke

Written by Intern Swara Bodke || Team Allycaral

Regional airline FLY91 has inducted two aircraft under long-term operating leases from regional aircraft lessor TrueNoord, continuing its measured fleet expansion aimed at strengthening air connectivity across Tier-2 and Tier-3 markets in India.
The first aircraft entered service in December 2025, while the second, delivered in January 2026, is scheduled to commence operations in February. With this transaction, TrueNoord becomes FLY91’s second aircraft lessor.
“This partnership gives us the flexibility to scale our fleet in a disciplined manner, aligned with demand and our long-term regional strategy,” said Manoj Chacko, Managing Director and CEO of FLY91. “The addition of a second leading global lessor to our portfolio is a significant reaffirmation of FLY91’s operational strengths, governance standards and execution capability.”
One of the newly inducted aircraft will be based in Goa, the airline’s home base, while the other will operate from Hyderabad, reinforcing FLY91’s dual-hub strategy and its focus on underserved regional routes.
Harsha Raghavan, Chairman of FLY91 and Managing Partner at Convergent Finance, said the collaboration supports responsible scaling. “The partnership with TrueNoord enables growth while maintaining financial and operational discipline.”


India’s regional aviation market continues to gain momentum, driven by increasing demand from smaller cities and policy support under the UDAN scheme. Welcoming the partnership, Anne-Bart Tieleman, CEO of TrueNoord, said the company is pleased to support FLY91’s growth plans. He noted that regional flying in India is becoming increasingly viable and commercially sustainable, with airlines seeking aircraft that can be rapidly deployed, operate from regional airports and deliver low trip-cost economics.
Abhineet Awasthi, Commercial & Transaction Manager at TrueNoord, highlighted FLY91’s execution-focused approach. “FLY91 is an agile, execution-driven airline with a clear regional connectivity focus. The team demonstrated a pragmatic, solution-oriented approach throughout the transaction.”
With the induction of these aircraft, FLY91’s fleet expands to four aircraft. The airline currently serves nine destinations and plans to grow its network to 15 destinations in the first quarter of 2026, with two additional aircraft expected to join the fleet by the end of Q1 FY2026.

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Modi Government Clears NOCs for Al Hind Air and FlyExpress, Boosting Competition in Indian Aviation

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The Indian aviation sector is set to witness a fresh wave of competition as the Modi government has granted No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to two new airlines — Al Hind Air and FlyExpress. The approval marks a key step towards expanding air connectivity and offering passengers more travel options across domestic and international routes.

With air travel demand in India growing rapidly, the entry of new carriers is expected to enhance competition, improve service quality, and potentially bring more affordable fares for flyers. Industry experts believe that these approvals reflect the government’s commitment to strengthening India’s aviation ecosystem and supporting private investment in the sector.

Al Hind Air and FlyExpress are expected to focus on niche routes, regional connectivity, and underserved markets, aligning with the government’s broader vision of improving accessibility under aviation growth initiatives. The development also comes at a time when India is emerging as one of the fastest-growing aviation markets globally.

The move is likely to create new employment opportunities, boost allied industries, and further reinforce India’s position as a major aviation hub in the coming years.