With the arrival of a charter flight that charges Rs 35,000 per hour, will other charter flights also go low cost?
With the arrival of a charter flight that charges Rs 35,000 per hour, will other charter flights also go low cost?
When Air Deccan, the first low cost Indian airline entered the market, it forced the aviation industry to reshape itself. A bunch of new budget airlines joined the fray, and even established airlines had to start operating low-cost options. But, now, perhaps the aviation industry, or more specifically the industry of charter flights, might undergo major reshaping.
Air Car, a charter airline company has just launched its low cost charter flight. It's operating two brand new aircrafts, and they are cheaper than renting even a helicopter. While Single Engine Bell and Augusta series' helicopters are available at Rs 80,000 and Rs 90,000 per hour, and six and eight seater charter flights are available at Rs 3 to Rs 4 lakh per hour, Air Car is available for just Rs 35,000.
The flights belong to the Cirrus SR 20 and SR 22 series and have a seating capacity of four, including the captain. The aircraft can fly to any destination within a radius of 500 kms, up to an altitude of 17000 feet, at a speed of 290 km /hr. "We fly to all destinations where big air carriers don't operate. It helps people reach a destination at a low cost, especially during emergencies," said Bhimesh Issar, owner of Air Car.
Air Car currently operates from Mumbai and Delhi, and the two flights are stationed at both airports. There are, however, plans to expand the size of the fleet.
So, why is flying with Air Car so cheap? According to Issar, "The reason is because the aircraft is fuel-efficient and requires only one crew member. It's our way of offering the passenger something different without compromising on quality."
According to other charter carriers, existing carriers will soon have to go low cost. "The Charter market has now become big in India, with new players coming in. The market will become competitive in the coming days and the existing airlines will have to reduce fares," said an official from a leading charter flight company based in Mumbai.
How cheap!
Single Engine Bell helicopters are available at Rs 80,000 to Rs 90,000 per hour. Six and eight seater charter flights are available at Rs 3 to Rs 4 lakh an hour. Air Car, however, is available for just Rs 35,000. The aircraft has a seating capacity of four, including the captain. It can fly to any destination within a radius of 500 kms, up to an altitude of 17000 feet, at a speed of 290 km /hr.
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