Airlines

India’s new regional airline ‘Fly19’ backed by former Kingfisher executive to begin soon

A former Kingfisher Airlines executive and the former India head of Prem Watsa’s Fairfax Financial are teaming up to create a new regional airline at a time when demand for air travel is rising in India.

Harsha Raghavan, current managing partner at Convergent Finance LLP, will lead the new airline, Fly91. He will be the planned airline’s Chairman. Manoj Chacko, formerly of the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines, will be the CEO. Fly91 plans to begin operations in December 2023, with a base in Goa.

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Fly91 will be active in the short-haul sector, where flights typically run 45 to 90 minutes. About 30% of domestic passengers in India fly into regional airports, which the airline would serve. As a solely focused passenger airline, it will operate a conventional fleet of ATR 72-600 aircraft, each of which can seat between 72 and 78 passengers.

In view of the fact that countless airlines, both big and small, have previously failed to sustain operations, both Chacko and Raghavan are aware of how challenging it is to establish and maintain an airline in the competitive Indian industry.

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However, they think that keeping things straightforward and focusing on the fundamentals is the key. Chacko declared, “We must keep in mind two essential factors. The first is that, at our core, we are in the transportation business, and getting people from point A to point B safely, comfortably, and economically is our primary goal.”

The second is to make things incredibly simple, concentrate to the fundamentals, execute them flawlessly, and avoid trying to reinvent the wheel when it is not required.

Source:

Airlines

PIA Reinstates Manchester and Paris Routes After EU Ban Lift

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced plans to resume flights to Europe starting in January, beginning with Paris as its first destination.

The decision follows the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) removal of a long-standing ban on the airline. PIA’s inaugural flight to Paris is scheduled for January 10, with bookings opening on December 9.

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In an official statement, PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan confirmed that the first flight schedule has been approved, marking a significant milestone in the airline’s recovery efforts. The EU ban had previously cost PIA approximately Rs40 billion ($144 million) annually in lost revenue, compounding its financial struggles.

With European operations restarting, PIA is now setting its sights on the United Kingdom. The airline plans to seek approval from the UK Department for Transport (DfT) to resume flights to major British cities such as London, Manchester, and Birmingham.

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These routes are anticipated to see high demand once necessary clearances are obtained. The lifting of the EU ban represents a key achievement for PIA as it works to rebuild its international network and regain its standing in the global aviation market.

By restoring flights to Europe and aiming for UK destinations, PIA is taking critical steps toward recovering lost ground and improving its financial outlook.