Shankh Airlines to Begin Operations in January, Check Key Routes Offered by India's New Airline
Shankh Airlines will start flight operations in the first half of January with an initial fleet of three Airbus aircraft, focusing on
The regional carrier FLY91 has two new aircraft as it expands operations. The airline has leased two ATR 72-600 planes from Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, reflecting growing momentum in India’s regional aviation industry. The event occurred soon after the government signalled a change in its intent to extend participation in one of the world’s fastest-growing domestic aviation markets.
The two new turboprops are scheduled for delivery later this month from ATR’s manufacturing facility in Toulouse, France. Their induction will increase FLY91’s fleet to six aircraft and allow the airline to boost capacity and flight frequencies on its present routes. The development will also introduce new destinations, such as Rajahmundry and Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, Nanded in Maharashtra, Hubballi in Karnataka and Dabolim in Goa, the airline said in a statement.
“This transaction supports our commitment to building a resilient and scalable regional airline through measured growth,” said CEO and MD of FLY91, Manoj Chacko.
“The ATR 72-600 is essential to our operational philosophy, providing an optimal balance of efficacy, dependability and performance for short-haul regional routes. Partnering once again with DAE allows us to expand our fleet while upholding economic discipline and capital efficiency.”
FLY91 had earlier inducted its first two aircraft through DAE. The ATR 72-600 is the backbone of the airline’s fleet strategy, given its turboprop economics, short take-off and landing competence and appropriateness for secondary and underserved airports. Since the beginning of commercial operations in March 2024, FLY91 has steadily built a regional network from Goa’s Manohar International Airport, linking cities such as Jalgaon, Solapur, and Agatti in the Lakshadweep Islands. They are also larger hubs, including Pune, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, as well as developing regional centres like Sindhudurg.
The support reflects a push to expand participation in a market dominated by specific carriers. Only nine scheduled domestic airlines are working. The number shrank further in October after regional carrier Fly Big suspended scheduled flights.
Presently, IndiGo and the Air India Group, which includes Air India and Air India Express, together control more than 90 per cent of the domestic market, with IndiGo having above 65 per cent, according to the latest DGCA data.
Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu has said encouraging more airlines is a reliable policy objective, pointing to schemes, for example, UDAN, that have helped regional carriers, including FLY91, Star Air and IndiaOne Air, expand services to underserved routes. The development comes as the Union Civil Aviation Ministry has granted NOCs to Al Hind Air and FlyExpress. At the same time, Uttar Pradesh-based Shankh Air, which holds an NOC, will begin operations in 2026.
As stated by the DGCA, India currently has nine domestic airlines in operation. The influx of new carriers also comes amid past failures, such as Jet Airways and Go First, underscoring the sector’s volatility.
Source: Economic Times
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