The FLY91 chief was honoured by Goa’s business community for leadership in building regional connectivity and driving economic growth in the coastal state.

Panaji, May 2026 – Manoj Chacko, Managing Director and CEO of FLY91, was recently honoured with the ‘Business Leader of the Year’ award at the 14th Business Goa Awards for Corporate Excellence 2026, held in Panaji. The award is among the most respected recognitions in the state’s business community, celebrating leadership, enterprise and impact.

The award was presented by Harshvardhan Bhatkuly, Founder, CEO and Editor of Business Goa, along with Shekhar Sardessai, Chairman and Managing Director of the Kineco Group, and noted designer Ritu Beri, at a ceremony attended by leading entrepreneurs and corporate leaders from across the state.

Accepting the award, Chacko said he was “humbled and honoured” by the recognition. “This recognition isn’t personal. It reflects the belief, grit and ambition of the entire FLY91 team. We’re building something that matters, connecting unserved and underserved India and unlocking new regional growth on our journey of Bharat Unbound,” he said.

He added that the honour held special meaning given FLY91’s roots in Goa. As a Goa-headquartered pure play regional airline, the recognition from the local business community marked a significant milestone in the company’s journey, which started in 2024.

“FLY91 is a Goan airline at heart. Our headquarters are here, our story began here, and this recognition from the community we serve feels like coming full circle,” Chacko also said.

The Business Goa Awards bring together some of the finest business minds in the state, recognising organisations and leaders who have demonstrated excellence, resilience and innovation. Chacko also acknowledged the support of passengers, partners and investors, noting that their trust continues to power the airline’s growth. “Our work has only just begun,” he said.

The airline currently flies to 12 destinations, namely Pune, Sindhudurg, Solapur and Jalgaon in Maharashtra; Agatti in the Lakshadweep Islands; Hubballi in Karnataka; Vijayawada and Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh; along with other business and leisure destinations namely Bengaluru, Goa, Kochi and Hyderabad.