Covid thruster off, demand for chartered flight declines

Operators hopeful of business travel driving demand

- DEEPAK PATEL

Chartered flight movements declined in India by 18.3 per cent in 2022-23 to 249,424 as the tailwind generated during the Covid-19 pandemic gradually ebbed.

In 2021-22, charter flight movements had hit a peak of 305,449, according to the Airports Authority of India's (AAI's) data, which has been reviewed by Business Standard. Each arrival/departure at an Indian airport is counted as one movement.

Rajesh Bali, managing director, Business Aircraft Operators Association (BAOA), said: "The Covid-19 pandemic boosted the demand. There is no doubt about it. As personal protection was more important, people did not worry much about the cost of taking a charter flight."

During the pandemic, there was a lot of emergency travel, and that included air ambulance flights. "So, these specific types of flights have declined," Bali said. BAOA has more than 70 members. During the peak of the Covid pandemic, people were willing to travel on any plane to reach their destination. "Now, people want a particular aircraft. They want convenience," he said, adding that operators now should add high-end aircraft to their fleet.