PANAJI
After Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Lakshadweep pitch this January, the country’s new regional airline startup Fly91 -- headquartered at Manohar International Airport (MIA) Mopa -- is set to embark on its maiden journey to the increasingly sought-after island from Goa.
Starting its operations with a symbolic flight on Tuesday, the 70-seater Fly91 claims to establish routes to various other regional destinations including Sindhudurg, Jalgaon, Nanded, etc besides Bangalore, Hyderabad, and beyond in the coming days.
Speaking exclusively to The Goan, MD and CEO of Fly91 Manoj Chacko asserted the airline’s commitment to responsible tourism.
“Our inaugural flight is set for Lakshadweep and our commercial operations will begin shortly thereafter. We believe in expanding our network to not only attract tourists to Goa but also facilitate travel for Goans to travel to other destinations,” he said.
The airline received the Air Operator Certificate from regulator DGCA exactly a week ago.
Asked whether choosing Goa was a tactical decision or an emotional one considering that Chacko has completed his schooling here, the CEO quickly cited the former.
“Choosing Goa is a strategic decision but of course, there are emotional ties. There are multiple factors driving my first choice including no operational disturbances, Goa’s status as the 8th busiest destination in the country with rapid growth, its significance as a MICE Capital (of India) hosting numerous business meetings, and that it is a primary gateway for international charters. Goa serves as a strong catchment area for traffic,” he elaborated.
So will Fly91 also opt for Goa’s once-only international airport at Dabolim? Chacko’s pat reply was, “Not as of now, but we may not rule out expanding operations from Dabolim in the long run.”
Selecting Mopa as its home base was not a spontaneous decision, as he claimed that MIA and his airlines go hand in hand.
“MIA, Mopa is a Greenfield airport and we are the first Greenfield airline… the reason why we selected MIA is to align growth plans along with that of MIA. There are benefits to operating from MIA,” he said.
