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Chandigarh will have a state-of-the-art integrated international airport terminal constructed with a project cost of Rs 450 crore. It would have the capacity to handle 1,600 passengers and the proposed area would be 40,000 square meters
Buoyed by the response from the northern region, Mumbai-based chartered airlines Invision Air Services Pvt Ltd is looking at setting up operation bases at Chandigarh and Ludhiana in the next two years. Besides these two locations, it is also looking at bases in Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata.
Currently, the company operates from Mumbai, Delhi, Nashik and Ahmedabad and has a fleet of 14 aircraft, including own and leased ones. Speaking to Business Standard, Vinit Phatak, managing director, Invision Air Services Pvt Ltd, said, “We have 10-15 clients in the Chandigarh and Punjab region. We are looking at infrastructure development at the airports in this region and are very keen to have operational bases in Chandigarh and Ludhiana. We need space to park our aircraft, lounge and office for marketing employees at the upcoming airport. If we get sufficient infrastructure, we will definitely set up operations at these locations in the next two years.”
By February 2015, Chandigarh would have state-of-the-art integrated international airport terminal building constructed with a project cost of Rs 450 crore. The terminal would have the capacity to handle 1,600 passengers (1,150 domestic and 450 international) and the proposed covered area would be 40,000 square meters. For executing the project, construction firm L & T construction has been entrusted by the Airports Authority of India. Similarly, the Punjab government is in process of acquiring land for expanding Ludhiana airport.
On being asked about the demand for charter planes from this region, Vinit added, “We are focusing on smaller towns where the big planes cannot land. We are receiving significant number of demands from corporates and high- profile celebrities for air connectivity. Since regular commercial aircraft cannot land and take off from smaller runways, operating there makes sense and also provides opportunity for charter service providers. Therefore, we are in the process of widening our network and services.”
He added, “‘In this region, we cater to around 10 to 15 clients at the moment and we expect this to increase after we do a formal launch in these areas via a roadshow planned in the first quarter of 2014. Further, in this region, our customers are mostly high net worth individuals (HNI’s) from manufacturing sector, trading, sugar sector and high-profile celebrities. Our primary aircraft is the Phenom 100 made by Embraer, which can seat four passengers. However our members and clients have access through our network to 15 aircraft, including jets and helicopters based out of India, which can carry from four to 17 passengers.”
It is worth mentioning that Invision Air is India’s first operator with a large brand new light jets and is free from the schedules and hubs of commercial airlines as it gives one the luxury to charter own aircraft and fly to 200 direct destinations across the country without facing the hustle-bustle at airports.
It also offers a wide range of options to suit all types of clients interested in private aviation — from those who fly frequently to those who wish to fly only a few hours (25 or less) in a year.
