Mumbai:
Charter companies may not compete with big airline operators in terms of total passenger traffic, but they are beginning to eat into a large chunk of their business-class travellers.
An unprecedented number of corporate jetsetters in the country are now taking to chartering aircraft to get to their destinations as it affords them more privacy and comfort and costs them nearly the same as a business-class ticket when travelling in groups.
What is also working in favour of charter flight operators is that major airlines often don't have enough flights operating on routes, which business travellers want to fly.
Ameya Gori, spokesperson, Airnetz aviation, one of the leading providers of charter and chopper services in the country, said, "We have been getting good business from corporate clients, especially those flying business class.
We have seen a substantial increase in demand compared to the last fiscal. We have a fleet of over hundred aircraft in India in every category, from helicopters to airplanes, out of which thirty are being operated from Mumbai."
Vineet Pathak, managing director, Invision Air Services Private Ltd, which is going to begin operations in a week, said, "The concept behind launching our services is to give maximum comfort to business-class passengers.
Not only do charter services afford comfort and privacy, they also get travellers to their destinations faster, which is very important to corporate travellers."
"Keeping the demand in mind, we have decided to purchase eighteen four-seater aircraft, exclusively designed for the business-class traveller, in which even one person will feel comfortable on board. We are also going to purchase two eight-seater aircraft," added Pathak
"Charter services are doing extremely well in sectors, on which most airlines don't fly. India has a huge potential for charter services and we will see a substantial increase in demand in the future as well," said Captain Sandip Saraf, a chartered pilot.