India’s pure-play regional carrier FLY91 has marked another important milestone in its growth journey with the launch of operations to Hubballi, further strengthening its commitment to enhancing connectivity across underserved regional corridors. The inaugural flight, which landed on April 17, was welcomed with a ceremonial water cannon salute, signalling the airline’s growing presence in India’s regional aviation landscape.
On the same day, the airline introduced three new routes—Solapur–Hyderabad, Hubballi–Hyderabad and Hubballi–Bengaluru—significantly improving connectivity between key tier-2 and tier-3 cities. In addition, FLY91 has enhanced its operations on the Goa–Solapur sector by increasing frequency, responding to rising passenger demand for dependable and convenient travel options.
The inclusion of Hubballi in FLY91’s expanding network is strategically significant. As a major trade, education and industrial hub in North Karnataka, the city plays a vital role in driving regional economic activity. Improved air connectivity to major metropolitan centres such as Hyderabad and Bengaluru is expected to bolster business travel, enhance access to educational institutions, and strengthen industrial linkages. For travellers, the new routes offer a reliable and time-efficient alternative to long surface journeys.
Commenting on the expansion, Manoj Chacko, Managing Director and CEO of FLY91, emphasised the airline’s long-term vision of strengthening regional connectivity across India. “The addition of Hubballi to our network reflects our continued commitment to building reliable, trustworthy and convenient regional air connectivity through our vision of ‘Connecting Bharat’. Hubballi is our 12th domestic destination after just two years of starting operations. Connecting nearly two dozen tier-2 and tier-3 destinations in central and southern India within such a short span is a testament to our measured growth strategy and focus on underserved markets,” he stated.
The airline’s expansion also comes at a time of heightened travel demand, particularly during the summer holiday season. Addressing this, Chacko announced the introduction of additional flights on the Agatti–Kochi route. “Due to peak summer demand, we are adding two additional weekly flights on the Agatti–Kochi sector from April 16 to May 20, 2026. This route has performed strongly for us, and the increased frequency will help us better cater to growing passenger demand,” he added.
Beyond network expansion, FLY91 is also positioning itself as an innovator in India’s domestic aviation space. In an industry-first initiative, the airline has introduced a pre-booked baggage fare model, allowing passengers to select from fixed baggage slabs at the time of booking. Branded as “Smartbag91”, this offering is designed to provide greater transparency, predictability and flexibility, aligning with the airline’s broader vision of building a digitally lean and customer-first travel experience.
This move reflects a growing trend among regional carriers to differentiate themselves through product innovation and operational efficiency, particularly in a highly competitive market. By offering customised baggage options upfront, FLY91 aims to enhance passenger convenience while maintaining cost efficiency—an approach that could set new benchmarks in the regional aviation segment.
With the addition of Hubballi, FLY91’s network has now expanded to 12 destinations, including Goa (Manohar International Airport, Mopa), Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Solapur, Jalgaon, Sindhudurg, Kochi, Agatti, Hubballi, Vijayawada and Rajahmundry. This steady expansion underscores the airline’s focus on connecting emerging cities and unlocking new regional travel opportunities.
As India’s aviation sector continues to witness robust growth, driven by increasing regional demand and infrastructure development, FLY91’s strategy of focusing on tier-2 and tier-3 destinations places it in a strong position to capitalise on this momentum. The airline’s emphasis on connectivity, innovation and customer-centric offerings highlights its ambition to play a key role in shaping the future of regional air travel in the country.
With new routes, enhanced frequencies and product innovations, FLY91 is not only expanding its footprint but also redefining the regional flying experience—bringing smaller cities closer to the national aviation network and making air travel more accessible, efficient and reliable for a wider segment of travellers.
