New UK Covid strain infects Indian jet charter business

New Delhi: The strain is showing on the charter business. Post the 9-day suspension on flight operations between India and the UK, which followed the latter’s announcement of finding a new coronavirus strain, the charter operators business is down by a whopping 80% for the busiest route. The rich and famous had booked charters to return to India for the New Year but could not complete the journey due to flight suspension. “Being a peak season for us, we had UK-India flights booked by our guests returning home for festivals and India-UK flights or those planning to go there…they are cancelled…this will impact the business by almost 80% for the UK market,” Kanika Tekriwal, CEO & Founder of JetSetGo Aviation, which provides business jets and helicopter services, told ET.While about 11,000 passengers booked on commercial flights scheduled during these days have to reschedule or cancel plans, businessmen, actors, casting crew and leisure travellers who booked these private jets will have to change New Year plans at the last minute.Some, including the promoter of a leading two-wheeler company, did return prior to the suspension of flights anticipating the situation to deteriorate in the UK. The promoter, who was staying in London for a couple of months, returned to India on December 19.Business jet service providers say that the business has taken a hit after showing signs of recovery during the months of October and November. Business Aircraft Operators Association (BAOA) is worried. “There was some growth during the festive months and we were expecting full revival of sorts to happen by the middle of next year. If suspensions like these continue or continue, it would hit the industry,” Rajesh K Bali, managing director, BAOA, told ET. “Around this time of the year, business jets are not used by business people but also by those who travel for leisure. Bookings had to be cancelled due to the suspension of flights,” Rohit Kapur, president at Jet HQ Asia told ET.Some of the effect may be offset by other destinations. “We did not plan any charters for the UK this year and used the airplanes to fly to destinations in demand like the Maldives and Dubai,” Rajan Mehra, CEO of Club One Air and former India head of Qatar Airways’ told ET. Many business jet operators are seeing a rise in bookings for Maldives and UAE, countries with the least amount of restrictions for Indian travellers. 79929498

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