Specialized regional aircraft lessor TrueNoord has expanded its footprint in India’s fast-growing aviation market by placing two ATR 72-600 turboprops with the emerging regional carrier, FLY91 (Just Udo Aviation Private Limited). The deliveries, completed in late December 2025 and mid-January, mark the beginning of a strategic partnership aimed at fueling the airline’s measured growth trajectory.
The first aircraft (MSN 1233) was handed over through a sale-and-leaseback transaction in late December and has already entered commercial service. Its sister ship (MSN 1236), acquired from Danish Air Transport (DAT) for a direct lease to FLY91, arrived in mid-January and is scheduled to join the fleet imminently. In a strategic move to optimize connectivity, one of the 70-seat turboprops will be based at FLY91’s headquarters in Goa, while the other will operate out of Hyderabad. This dual-hub approach is designed to bolster the airline’s mission of linking underserved Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities across the subcontinent.
For FLY91, the addition of these aircraft represents the third and fourth units in its fleet, supporting a disciplined expansion plan targeting 30 aircraft by 2029. Manoj Chacko, Managing Director and CEO of FLY91, emphasized the importance of measured scaling, noting that the partnership with TrueNoord provides the necessary flexibility to align fleet capacity with actual demand. He highlighted that the reliable and efficient ATR 72-600s remain central to the airline’s regional strategy, and welcomed TrueNoord as a key leasing partner on their growth journey.
TrueNoord’s Commercial & Transaction Manager, Abhineet Awasthi, cited FLY91’s customer-focused ethos and execution-driven leadership as key reasons for the partnership. He praised the airline’s transparent and pragmatic approach, which mirrored TrueNoord’s own solution-driven philosophy. The lessor also acknowledged the support of DAT’s Chief Legal Officer, Darius Morozas, for facilitating the smooth acquisition and transfer of the second aircraft.
With these deliveries, TrueNoord now serves its third Indian customer. Anne-Bart Tieleman, CEO of TrueNoord, contextualized the move within India’s vibrant aviation landscape. He pointed to robust demand in smaller cities and supportive government policies like the UDAN scheme as catalysts that are making regional air travel commercially viable. He affirmed that TrueNoord is well-positioned to supply the fuel-efficient, quick-to-deploy turboprops that airlines need to capitalize on these opportunities, reinforcing the lessor’s commitment to the region.
