Abhinandan Varthaman joins airline with a Kerala connection

IAF fighter pilot Abhinandan Varthaman shot to fame in 2019, when he was held captive by Pakistan after an air duel. He was held captive for three days and later released following international and diplomatic interventions. The man, who had multiple bruises, including a fractured rib, was honoured with the Vir Chakra the same year and retired from the IAF early this year. Now, he is all set to take a new route in his career. He is all set to join the new airline Fly91, helmed by Keralite Manoj Chacko.

The airline, based in Goa, started its operations in early 2024 and serves many cities like Pune, Vijayawada, Jalgaon, Agatti and Rajahmundry. It is based at Manohar International Airport in Mopa and operates a fleet of six ATR 72-600 aircraft. Earlier, Chacko said that the airline aims to connect more than 50 cities across the country.

The Kerala connection
The airline's founder, Manoj Chacko, has more than three decades of experience in the travel industry and has held senior positions at companies like Kingfisher, Emirates and American Express. His parents migrated to Goa from Kunnamkulam in 1965.

All set to expand fleet
As per the latest reports, the airline is all set to place an order for at least 20 turboprop aircraft from planemaker Avions de Transport Regional (ATR) to expand its fleet. Last month, the airline appointed GoAir veteran Krishnan Balakrishnan as Chief Operational Officer (COO). He has worked with Jazeera Airways in Kuwait for eight years before joining Fly91.
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