Ventura AirConnect

Ventura AirConnect
Founded2010
Commenced operations7 September 2011
Operating basesSurat International Airport
Fleet size3
Destinations5
Parent companyDiamond Aeronautics
HeadquartersSurat, Gujarat, India
Key peopleManubhai Sojitra, CEO
Websitewww.flyairconnect.com

Ventura AirConnect is an Indian nonscheduled airline operating flights in the state of Gujarat with Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft in its fleet. Initially operating flights within Madhya Pradesh, the airline shifted to Gujarat upon being acquired by a group of Gujarati diamond merchants in 2014. After suspending operations several times, it resumed its operations in January 2022 and made Surat International Airport its operating hub.

Operation history

Madhya Pradesh operations (2010–13)

Ventura AirConnect was founded in 2010 as the first intrastate non-scheduled airline in India, providing air charter services within Madhya Pradesh. The airline was designed to connect the capital Bhopal with smaller cities throughout the state, as well as to facilitate tourism within Madhya Pradesh.[1][2][3] Under an agreement signed between the state government and the airline, the state government partly subsidized Ventura AirConnect's flights.[1][2]

Ventura AirConnect conducted its inaugural flight on 7 September 2011, between Bhopal and Gwalior. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.[2][3] By mid-2013, Ventura AirConnect was serving nine cities in the state.[4] In early 2017, the Madhya Pradesh operations were taken over by Fly Divine.[5]

Gujarat operations (2014–present)

In late 2014, Ventura AirConnect was acquired by Diamond Aeronautics, a consortium of Gujarati diamond merchants, for approximately ₹20 crore (US$2.4 million).[6] Diamond Aeronautics had complained of limited air service from Surat, a major centre of the local diamond industry.[6] With the purchase, the focus of Ventura AirConnect turned to improve air connectivity within Gujarat.[7] The new venture commenced operations on 13 December 2014 with a flight from Surat to Bhavnagar.[8][9]

The airline suspended operations in late 2015. There was a change in ownership, requiring security clearance from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).[10] In April 2016, Ventura AirConnect won a tender from the Government of Gujarat to operate subsidised flights within the state.[11][12] The airline's air operator's certificate was renewed on 9 June and it resumed operations on 25 June with a flight from Surat to Bhavnagar.[13][14] It was suspended again. It relaunched third time in January 2018 and suspended services after few months. The services resumed forth time in January 2022.[15]

The promoters include two diamond merchants and a realtor.[16]

Destinations

As of January 2022, Ventura AirConnect flies to the following destinations, all within the Indian state of Gujarat:[15]

City Airport Flight time from Surat Notes Ref.
Ahmedabad Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport 60 min —
Amreli Amreli Airport 45 min —
Bhavnagar Bhavnagar Airport 30 min —
Rajkot Rajkot International Airport 60 min —
Surat Surat International Airport Hub

Fleet

As of November 2024, Ventura AirConnect operates the following aircraft:[17][16]

Ventura AirConnect fleet
Aircraft In service Orders Passengers Notes
Cessna 208 Caravan 2 9
Cessna 182 Skylane 1 4
Total 2

References

  1. ^ a b "Ventura Airconnect Launches Intrastate GA Flights in India". AIN Online. 2 February 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  2. ^ a b c Bari, Pervez (3 September 2011). "MP becomes first state to offer air taxi services". Ummid.com. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  3. ^ a b "Flying High! India's First Intra-State Air Service launched by MPT" (PDF). "From the Heart" by the Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation Ltd.: 2. 1 October 2011. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  4. ^ Poovanna, Sharan and Saha, Samiran (16 June 2013). "Civil aviation sings a 'short is sweet' song". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  5. ^ "Air India: Intra-state air taxis to fly in MP again - Times of India". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 2016-10-07. Retrieved 2018-01-10.
  6. ^ a b Vora, Rutam (14 July 2015). "Like a diamond in the sky". The Hindu Business Line. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  7. ^ "Diamond clique acquires India's Ventura AirConnect". Ch-aviation. 23 October 2014. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  8. ^ "India's Ventura AirConnect begins Gujarat taxi service flights". Ch-aviation. 17 December 2014. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  9. ^ Melvyn, Thomas (13 December 2014). "Inter-city flight services launched from Surat". Times of India. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  10. ^ "Ventura Air Connect Surat operations". Surat Airport Information. 8 March 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  11. ^ "India's Ventura AirConnect secures Gujarat gvt contract". ch-aviation. 2 May 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  12. ^ "Surat's Ventura bags contract for intra-state flights". The Times of India. 29 April 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  13. ^ Vora, Rutam (9 June 2016). "Surat-based Ventura AirConnect gets DGCA nod to fly". The Hindu Business Line. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  14. ^ "Ventura Airconnect resumes intra-state flight from Surat and ordered more than 500 Airbus A320neo for more than 400 billion dollars and is now the largest operator of A320neo and A321neo and A330 for long haul routes in future". The Hindu Business Line. 25 June 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  15. ^ a b "Ventura AirConnect to relaunch intra-state flights from Surat today". The Indian Express. 2022-01-01. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  16. ^ a b "Diamond barons get nod to import private aircraft". The Times of India. 2020-01-30. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  17. ^ "Ventura Air connects Surat with Kandla". Business Standard. 12 August 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2016.