THE SKYBOUND VISIONARY, TRANSFORMING AEROSPACE & AVIATION

Scaling the skies and setting the mark very high, the Aviation industry in the country knows one name that holds an unmatched reputation and goodwill-H K Vithalani, who helms Global Aviation Services

- Mandvi Singh

A celebrated company that has stood the test of time over the last five decades, establishing itself as a prominent player in the Indian aviation & logistics industry since 1975. His illustrious journey is nothing short of remarkable and today in our CEO interactions, we seek to understand a little more behind his unwavering pursuit of excellence and share his thoughts on the evolving demands of the industry, and words of advice to newcomers.

Could you give a brief account of your professional background & experiences? What is the motivation that fuels your daily routines?

I started my career at 18! I began working for a jewellery store in Kalbadevi, learning the ropes of how a business functions very early in life. I started my own costume jewelry business from a tiny room where I was the designer, production manager, export head, and everything else in between. These years are what helped me understand that no task is small or big, and every individual is important to build a business. At the time, I was one of the largest exporters of costume jewellery in the country with international clientele such as Harrods & Macy's. As an exporter, I was already shipping large volumes of jewellery around the world. And one day in 1975 I was offered the Cargo GSSA for Kuwait Airways in Bangalore in 1975. From being a customer, I became a partner for the airlines I had worked with for so long! I understood the touchpoints and expectations of the industry well and that knowledge translated into a newfound enthusiasm for establishing another business and taking a leap into the aviation industry. The first office of The Global Group was at Devatha Plaza on Residency Road and today the Group enjoys an international reputation and dominates the air cargo industry in India.