By A Correspondent

Hyderabad: Pure-play regional airline FLY91 has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Timetooth Technologies, an Indian aerospace engineering firm headquartered in Noida and Bengaluru, to collaborate on the design, development and supply of indigenously engineered and certified aircraft passenger seats for FLY91’s fleet.

The MoU was signed on the sidelines of Wings India 2026 in Hyderabad on January 28, 2026, in the presence of FLY91 chairman Harsha Raghavan, FLY91 chief operations officer Chenna Reddy, and Timetooth Technologies co-founders and directors Amitav Chaudhuri and Girish Mudgal.

The partnership establishes a framework for the joint development of customised seating solutions tailored to FLY91’s operational and cabin requirements, while advancing the Government of India’s Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) objectives within the aviation manufacturing ecosystem, according to a statement from Timetooth Technologies.

“By partnering with an Indian firm that has developed the country’s first indigenous aircraft passenger seats certified by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), FLY91 aims to strengthen domestic capabilities across the commercial aviation value chain,” the statement said.

Under the proposed collaboration, Timetooth Technologies will lead the technical design, prototyping, testing and certification of passenger seats customised for FLY91’s ATR 72-600 aircraft.

The scope of the MoU also includes regulatory certification support to meet DGCA and applicable international airworthiness standards, exploration of lightweight materials and smart seat features to reduce fuel consumption and enhance passenger comfort, and potential collaboration on long-term maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) support for the seating systems.

FLY91 will provide operational inputs, cabin layout specifications and aesthetic guidelines, and facilitate aircraft access for fitment trials and engineering assessments, the statement said.

The airline will evaluate the developed seating systems for potential fleet-wide integration, while both parties will jointly engage with aircraft OEMs to secure necessary approvals related to cabin fitment and configuration.

FLY91 currently operates four ATR 72-600 aircraft, with two additional aircraft are expected to join the fleet shortly. The airline serves nine destinations and is preparing for further network expansion, including Rajahmundry, Hubballi, Nanded, Vijayawada and Goa (Dabolim International Airport).

“This MoU reflects our intent to build critical aviation capabilities within India. As a pure-play regional airline focused on Tier 2 and Tier 3 connectivity, we see value not just in operating aircraft, but in nurturing an ecosystem that supports indigenous design, certification and manufacturing,” FLY91 managing director and chief executive officer Manoj Chacko said.

“Collaborations like this give real momentum to Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat by bringing advanced aerospace engineering closer to Indian operators,” said Harsha Raghavan, who is also the managing partner at Convergent Finance, said.

“True Atmanirbhar aviation can only be achieved when Indian product companies own design IP, manufacturing and type certification,” Girish Mudgal said.

“This vision requires capable Tier-I suppliers to be supported by regulators like the DGCA and enabled by forward-thinking airlines such as FLY91. This MoU is a foundational step towards making that vision a reality,” he said.

Timetooth Technologies, an Indian aerospace engineering firm and developer of India’s first indigenous, DGCA-certified aircraft passenger seats, showcased its products at Wings India 2026.

“The MoU marks a significant step towards reducing import dependence, improving supply-chain resilience, and embedding Indian engineering solutions within India’s rapidly growing regional aviation market,” the statement added.

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