Ventura AirConnect
 | |
| Founded | 2010 |
|---|---|
| Commenced operations | 7 September 2011 |
| Operating bases | Surat Airport |
| Fleet size | 2 |
| Destinations | 3 |
| Company slogan | Flying - simplified |
| Parent company | Diamond Aeronautics |
| Headquarters | Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India |
| Key people | Pradeep Agarwal, chairman |
| Website | venturaairconnect.co.in |
Ventura AirConnect is an Indian air-charter company offering intra-state flights within the state of Gujarat. It operates non-scheduled flights to three destinations using a fleet of two Cessna 208 Caravans.
Due to a change in ownership and the need for its operating licence to be renewed, the airline suspended operations in late 2015. It expects to resume operations in April 2016.[1]
History
Madhya Pradesh operations
Ventura AirConnect was founded in 2010 as the first intrastate non-scheduled airline in India, providing air charter services within Madhya Pradesh. The airline was designed to connect the capital Bhopal with smaller cities throughout the state, as well as to facilitate tourism within Madhya Pradesh.[2][3][4] Under an agreement signed between the state government and the airline, the state government partly subsidised Ventura AirConnect's flights.[2][3]
Ventura AirConnect conducted its inaugural flight on 7 September 2011, between Bhopal and Gwalior. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.[3][4] By mid-2013, Ventura AirConnect was serving nine cities in the state.[5]
Gujarat operations
In late 2014, Ventura AirConnect was acquired by Diamond Aeronautics, a consortium of Gujarati diamond merchants, for approximately ₹20 crore (US$3.0 million).[6] Diamond Aeronautics had complained of limited air service from Surat, a major centre of the local diamond industry.[6] With the purchase, the focus of Ventura AirConnect turned to improving air connectivity within Gujarat.[7] The new venture commenced operations on 13 December 2014 with a flight from Surat to Bhavnagar.[8][9]
In early 2015, Ventura AirConnect announced its plan to partner with Mehair, a Mumbai-based airline that had been awarded the rights to operate air service throughout Gujarat. Mehair had been struggling financially on its Gujarat flights.[6][10]
The airline suspended operations in late 2015. There was a change in ownership, requiring security clearance from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). In addition, the airline's Non-Scheduled Operator's Permit (NSOP) had to be renewed. Ventura AirConnect expects to resume flights in April 2016.[1]
Destinations
Until its suspension in late 2015, Ventura AirConnect operated four daily flights between Surat and Bhavnagar and a single daily flight between Surat and Rajkot.[11] Once a third aircraft arrives, the airline plans to begin flights to Indore in Madhya Pradesh.[8][9]
| City | Airport | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bhavnagar | Bhavnagar Airport | suspended |
| Rajkot | Rajkot Airport | suspended |
| Surat | Surat Airport [Hub] | suspended |
Fleet
Ventura AirConnect operates the following aircraft:[6]
| Aircraft | In Service | Orders | Passengers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cessna 208 Caravan | 2 | 2 | 9 | |
References
- 1 2 "Ventura Air Connect Surat operations". Surat Airport Information. 8 March 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
- 1 2 "Ventura Airconnect Launches Intrastate GA Flights in India". AIN Online. 2 February 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
- 1 2 3 Bari, Pervez (3 September 2011). "MP becomes first state to offer air taxi services". Ummid.com. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
- 1 2 "Flying High! India's First Intra-State Air Service launched by MPT" (PDF). "From the Heart" by the Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation Ltd.: 2. 1 October 2011. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
- ↑ Poovanna, Sharan and Saha, Samiran (16 June 2013). "Civil aviation sings a 'short is sweet' song". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 Vora, Rutam (14 July 2015). "Like a diamond in the sky". The Hindu Business Line. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
- ↑ "Diamond clique acquires India's Ventura AirConnect". Ch-aviation. 23 October 2014. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
- 1 2 "India's Ventura AirConnect begins Gujarat taxi service flights". Ch-aviation. 17 December 2014. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
- 1 2 Melvyn, Thomas (13 December 2014). "Inter-city flight services launched from Surat". Times of India. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
- ↑ "India's Mehair to partner Ventura AirConnect in Gujarat services". Ch-aviation. 9 April 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
- ↑ "Surat Departures – Non Scheduled Charters". Surat Airport Information. Retrieved 28 February 2016.