India?s aviation boom has caught the attention of business jet charter operators. Among them, VistaJet?the world?s fastest-growing business jet charter firm?plans to make available some 900 aircraft to high net-worth individuals and corporates here.
?Most of the 900 aircraft will be available to the Indian market,? a senior VistaJet official confirmed to FE. The aircraft belong to both the company and its partners. To service the Indian market, VistaJet has also tied up with travel solutions & services provider Bird Group to offer not only services on the domestic circuit, but also international routes.
Business houses, charter companies and others in India own 127 private aircraft, and the country?s overall fleet is a little over 500. This is expected to witness major growth in the next few years.
The Swiss VistaJet, which has grown to become the number two business jet firm outside the US, has not only placed orders for airplanes from Bombardier, but has also announced the acquisition of Skyjet, the business jet charter division of Bombardier. This gives it access to some 920 aircraft.
VistaJet?mainly known for its charter services, but also extensively offers aircraft financing and trading services?has joined hands with Malaysia?s Subang SkyPark to provide on-demand charter operations in the Asia-Pacific region.
The hub in Malaysia and another in the Middle East, the company says, makes servicing India?s needs easy as the country falls between the two. ?This is a temporary measure until demand from India picks up and the company launches full-scale operations in the country,? said the official.