Living The High Life

Luxury comes in many forms. No longer hemmed in by fully booked flights, inordinate delays or inadequate facilities and services, the country’s wealthy, aspirational and status-conscious have taken to the private jet industry, which now is their hottest playground.

Back in the day, when people spoke about charters, grand visions of plane-loads of high-stepping tourists from foreign shores would unspool—Germany in particular—arriving in season, in sunny Goa. Then it was mainly the corporate world which embraced the idea of chartering a flight, for the sake of speed and convenience, which was crucial in their line of work. Also, at the time, that was cheaper than investing in a private aircraft. And then when things started to change, the added lure of discounts came in on early bookings with charter companies, who were beginning to feel the pinch of rising competition.

Until 2005, there were less than 40 private aircraft in India. According to Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) estimates, the number of private charter operators then reached a peak of 147 in 2011-12, though today the figure has dropped to 111 (due to the rising costs). But there is a Non-Scheduled Operator’s Permit (NSOP) fleet of 356 aircraft, including helicopters, catering to the sector.

A growing market

From plush cabins awash with luxurious beds, fresh linen, leathers, wood veneers, metallic finishes and a glittering cavalcade of crystal, china and flatware to work areas featuring high-speed Internet, mobile phone connectivity and video conferencing capabilities, private aircraft oozed oodles of luxury from every pore. It was largely the rich and powerful—politicians, industrialists, corporate executives, celebrities and high net worth individuals (HNIs)— who could afford these delightful luxuries. But times were a-changing.