Indian fractional ownership and charter provider Club One Air has earmarked private investment of up to Rp900 million ($200 million) over two years to fund its expansion plans and take advantage of burgeoning demand for business aviation in the country.
The New Delhi-based company predicts aircraft ownership will become the mainstay of India’s business aviation as the economy prospers. “Aircraft ownership [including fractional] will be the future of corporate aviation in India,” says managing director Manav Singh.
Club One Air operates a fleet of nine business jets and helicopters, including superlight Cessna Citation Excels, Beechcraft King Air twin turboprops and Eurocopter EC130s from its bases in New Delhi and Mumbai and plans to expand throughout India focusing on “all key Indian cities with a hub and spoke system”, says Singh.
The operator also plans to acquire widebody aircraft, such as the Boeing Business Jet, to exploit the growth of large group transport in India, says Singh.
“We are aiming to become a Rp25,000 million company by 2010 and operate a fleet of around 25 aircraft,” Singh adds.
Source: Flight International
