Business sentiments running high normally mean good days for private jet operators in India. But the country’s lack of infrastructure and a policy paralysis have stymied the growth of an industry which according to operators would have been high and flying now.
Firstly, the government is yet to evolve a policy framework for non-scheduled air operations, and lack of it was impeding the growth of the industry.
“Being governed by the same regulations of that of the scheduled operators, poses a load on us, said Bhupesh Joshi, CEO of Club One Air — one of the largest players in the market. Joshi cites the example of regulation according to which it is mandatory for a co-pilot to fly for 100 hours to become captain.
“Because the scheduled carriers have volumes and it’s very easy for them to meet the regulatory requirements, for our pilots to have 10 hours of flying will take six months,” he says.
The story of the nosedive lies in its numbers. India's private jet fleet grew at double-digit rates until 2008, when it surged 26 percent, according to industry figures. But that proved to be a flash in a pan.
After that, there was a sharp slowdown owing to the global financial crisis. High taxes ensured that the numbers didn't climbed back up by much has a one-time show. Since then, there have been periodic increases in the number of operators, but no sooner than one came in, another went out.
18/04/16 Arindam Majumder/Business Standard
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Firstly, the government is yet to evolve a policy framework for non-scheduled air operations, and lack of it was impeding the growth of the industry.
“Being governed by the same regulations of that of the scheduled operators, poses a load on us, said Bhupesh Joshi, CEO of Club One Air — one of the largest players in the market. Joshi cites the example of regulation according to which it is mandatory for a co-pilot to fly for 100 hours to become captain.
“Because the scheduled carriers have volumes and it’s very easy for them to meet the regulatory requirements, for our pilots to have 10 hours of flying will take six months,” he says.
The story of the nosedive lies in its numbers. India's private jet fleet grew at double-digit rates until 2008, when it surged 26 percent, according to industry figures. But that proved to be a flash in a pan.
After that, there was a sharp slowdown owing to the global financial crisis. High taxes ensured that the numbers didn't climbed back up by much has a one-time show. Since then, there have been periodic increases in the number of operators, but no sooner than one came in, another went out.
18/04/16 Arindam Majumder/Business Standard
